Patient-administered sphenopalatine ganglion block.
OBJECTIVE
Pain resulting from head and neck cancer can be severe and difficult to manage. Avoiding hospitalization for as long as possible with a reasonable level of comfort requires a number of therapeutic modalities. The usefulness of self-administered sphenopalatine ganglion block was evaluated in a patient with lethal midline granuloma requiring large doses of morphine.


METHODS
A 30-year-old woman with intractable pain from lethal midline granuloma was taught to self-administer 4% lidocaine, 1.5 mL topically into each nostril three times per day.


RESULTS
A 3-month follow-up examination showed substantial pain relief and reduction in morphine requirement. No adverse side effects or complications developed.


CONCLUSIONS
In certain patients, sphenopalatine ganglion block can be effectively self-administered at home to manage chronic pain.
Saade
E
E
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0254, USA.
Paige
G B
GB
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005724:Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects*; D006103:Granuloma, Lethal Midline / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012646:Self Administration
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine