title: Effect of Preoperative Nerve Block on Postthyroidectomy Headache and Cervical Pain: A Randomized Prospective Study.
abstract: The aim of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of greater occipital nerve (GON) block and bilateral superficial cervical plexuses (BSCP) blocks in alleviating postoperative occipital headache and posterior neck pain after thyroidectomy. This randomized prospective study consisted of 75 women undergoing total thyroidectomy. Patients were randomized into three groups: Group I (n = 25): patients receiving GON, Group II (n = 25): patients receiving bilateral (BSCP) blocks, and Group III (n = 25): patients receiving no block. Assessment of occipital headache, posterior neck, and incision site pains was made at 12 hours and 24 hours after extubation by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). In comparison to Group III significantly fewer patients in Groups I and II experienced occipital headache at 12 (p = 0.006) and 24 hours (p = 0.005) and also posterior neck pain at 24 hours (p = 0.003). Mean VAS scores at 12 and 24 hours for occipital headache (p = 0.003 and p = 0.041) and posterior neck pain (p = 0.015 and p = 0.008) were significantly lower in Group I. The differences between Groups II and III were not significant except for the occipital headache at 12 hours. The efficacy of GON block is superior to BSCP blocks in alleviating postthyroidectomy occipital headache and posterior cervical pain.
authors.affiliation: GNRC Hospital, Guwahati, Assam 781030, India.
authors.forename: Sunil Malla Bujar
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barua
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226014, India.
authors.forename: Anjali
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4077-402X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226014, India.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kishore
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226014, India.
authors.forename: Saroj Kanta
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226014, India.
authors.forename: Gyan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4605-3816
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chand
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226014, India.
authors.forename: Gaurav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226014, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226014, India.
authors.forename: Ashok Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Verma