Topical intranasal lidocaine is not a sphenopalatine ganglion block

© American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ..

There is renewed interest in the central role of the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) in cerebrovascular autonomic physiology and the pathophysiology of different primary and secondary headache disorders. There are diverse neural structures (parasympathetic, sympathetic and trigeminal sensory) that convene into the SPG which is located within the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF). This makes the PPF an attractive target to neuromodulatory interventions of these different neural structures. Some experts advocate for the nasal application of local anesthetics as an effective route for SPG block with the belief that the local anesthetic can freely access the PPF. It is time to challenge this historical concept from the early 1900s. In this daring discourse, I will review anatomical studies, CT and MRI reports to debunk this old myth. Will provide anatomical evidence to explain that all these assumptions are untrue and the local anesthetic has to magically 'travel' a distance of 4-12 mm of adipose and connective tissue to reach the SPG in sufficient concentration and volume to effectively induce SPG blockade. Future research should focus on assessing a clinical biomarker to confirm SPG blockade. It could be regional cerebral blood flow or lacrimal gland secretion.

Errataetall:

CommentIn: Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2022 Jan;47(1):74-75. - PMID 34385293

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:46

Enthalten in:

Regional anesthesia and pain medicine - 46(2021), 3 vom: 15. März, Seite 276-279

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Narouze, Samer [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

98PI200987
Anesthesia
Anesthetics, Local
Autonomic nerve block
Education
Journal Article
Lidocaine
Local
Pain management
Post-dural puncture headache

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 05.07.2021

Date Revised 19.04.2022

published: Print-Electronic

CommentIn: Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2022 Jan;47(1):74-75. - PMID 34385293

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1136/rapm-2020-102173

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM318885255