• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.227-230
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• 1999

The sphenopalatine ganglion lies behind the middle nasal concha in the sphenopalatine foramen which connects the fossa to the nasal cavity. It has sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers as well as sensory fibers which innervate the nasal cavity, palate and nasopharynx. Current indications for blockade of the sphenopalatine ganglion include the management of migraine, cluster headache and a variety of facial neuralgias. Blockage of this ganglion can be attempted when more conservative treatments have failed. If the pain relief gained through the procedure is of short duration and the blockage needs to be repeated frequently, then radiofrequency thermocoagulation should be considered. Since the sphenopalatine ganglion lies close to the maxillary nerve, neurolytics can cause facial dysesthesia, radiofrequency thermocoagulation is the preferred method for ganglionotomy. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion was done for 3 patients who suffered from postherpetic neuralgia, cluster headache, atypical facial pain respectively. Good results were obtained with the exception of the patient suffering from atypical facial pain. Although we were concerned about complications such as epistaxis, none were encountered. However it should be noted that caution must be exercised when repeatedly redirecting the cannula in the sphenopalatine fossa as serious bleeding and pronounced facial swelling may result.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.183-186
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• 1996

When medical therapy fail to relieve pain at tolerable level for patients confirmed with trigeminal neuralgia, presence of mass lesion excluded, surgery is indicated. Innumerable surgical strategies have been attempted for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia but only four have proven appropriate: (1)stereotactic radiofrequency gasserian ganglionotomy, (2) percutaneous glycerol gangliolysis, (3) percutaneous microcompression, (4) microvascular decompression. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the gasserian ganglion stems from the efforts of Sweet. This technique is the surgical treatment of choice around the world for surgical treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. Since 1986, over 14,000 cases have been reported utilizing this technique. To improve the treatment method further, an electrode with a flexible curved tip has been developed for easier and more precise electrode placement and lesion production during the thermocoagulation of gasserian ganglion. This operation was performed recently on three patients at Hallym University Hospital. using a curved tip electrode. Complete relief of pain was achieved for all patient. However, some complications were noted.