The purpose of this study is to compare a pain block in the midface, versus the traditional, more invasive, therapeutic epidural patch for the treatment of headaches
The sphenopalatine nerve block has been used to treat headaches. Patients have headaches after epidural access from post dural puncture. We need to know if sphenopalatine nerve block will help the patient with the headache.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
8
A device: 17 gauge Tuohy needle will be placed to the epidural space using the loss of resistance technique. Once positioned a sterile stylet will be replaced within the needle to maintain the sterility of the epidural space. A tourniquet may be used to identify a peripheral venous site, which will be sterilely prepped with betadine x3 and then chloraprep. Venipuncture will be performed with a device: 20gauge or larger needle. 20mL of blood will be aspirated in a sterile system into an appropriately sized syringe. After sterile transfer, this autologous blood will be slowly injected into the epidural space.
The drug: 5% lidocaine ointment, a local anesthetic, will be applied to the end of a device: long channeled cotton tipped applicator inserted into both nares and placed over the mucosa in the area of posterior aspect of the middle ethmoid, toward the presumed anatomic location of the sphenopalatine ganglion, evidenced by a slight resistance at the appropriate depth. 5mL of drug: 1% lidocaine solution will then be injected into the hollow shaft of the device: applicator and allowed to topically anesthetize the ganglion by gravity flow for 30 minutes.
New Jersey Pain Center
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
RWJUH/Barnabus
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Number of Headaches With a VAS Score >8/10 Prior to Initiation of Either Therapy
Outcome measure will entail recording patient self-reported pain scores to quantify the level of headache pain using the Visual analog scale, meaning 0 - No pain, 1-3 - Mild Pain, 4-6 - Moderate Pain, 7-10 - Severe Pain, by way of in person assessment by pain questionnaire just prior to initiation of either therapy (Epidural blood patch vs Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block).
Time frame: Prior to initiation of therapy (Epidural blood patch vs Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block).
Number of Participants With a Headache Vas 8/10 at 30 Minutes Following Either Therapy.
Self-reported pain scores to quantify the level of headache pain using the Visual analog scale (as defined within the description of outcome 1 above) by way of in person assessment by pain questionnaire at 30 minutes following either therapy (Epidural blood patch vs Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block).
Time frame: At 30 minutes following either therapy.
Number of Participants With a Headache Vas 8/10 at 60 Minutes Following Either Therapy.
Self-reported pain scores to quantify the level of headache pain using the Visual analog scale (as defined within the description of outcome 1 above) by way of in person assessment by pain questionnaire at 60 minutes following either therapy (Epidural blood patch vs Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block).
Time frame: At 60 minutes following either therapy.
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