• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.395-398
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• 1996

A retrospective analysis of 175 patients who were suffering from trigeminal neuralgia was done. We found 21 cases (12.0%) of abnormal findings including brain tumors and cerebrovascular disease on brain MRI. All patients were transferred to department of neurosurgery for operation. Among them, 7 patients refused or gave up operation and received nerve blocks with pure alcohol. Their MRI findings were meningioma, arachnoid cyst, arteriovenous malformation, venous angioma, and frontal sinus cancer This study demonstrates that peripheral nerve block or trigeminal nerve block with pure alcohol would be possible in case of elderly patients, patients who have poor general condition, patients who refuse operation, and brain tumor or cerebrovascular disease which located in dangerous area to be operated.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.3 no.1 s.4
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• pp.6-9
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• 2003

Background: The use of neurolytic agents to control neuropathic pain has been described from the last century Phenol and ethyl alcohol have been widely used as neurolytic agents, however, their neurolytic effect is variable in efficacy and duration of action, and infrequently accompanied with grave complications. It has been found that 5% lidocaine causes irreversible conduction blockade in animal studies. The goal of this study was to evaluate the neurolytic effect of 5%o lidocaine on various neuropathic pain syndromes for prolonged analgesia. Methods: Twenty-five patients with a diagnosis of neuropathic pain including trigeminal neuralgia (n = 7), postherpetic neuralgia (n = 10), and postsurgical neuralgia (n = 8) were selected after failure of routine therapeutic regimens. After performing a diagnostic nerve block with 1% lidocaine and 5% lidocaine was injected. The patients were followed for 6 months. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores and side effects were recorded for each patients. Results: A significant decrease in pain scores after neurolytic blockade with 5% lidocaine was seen in all of three pain groups. All the patients reported immediate and prolonged pain relief lasting from 4 weeks to 6 months. None of patients exhibited any appreciable side effects or complications. Conclusions: We suggest that 5% lidocaine may be used safely and effectively for the purpose of prolonged analgesia in selected patients with intractable neuropathic pain syndromes.