Sumatriptan improves postoperative quality of recovery and reduces postcraniotomy headache after cranial nerve decompression.
Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a surgical treatment for cranial nerve disorders via a small craniotomy. The postoperative pain of this procedure can be classified as surgical site somatic pain and postcraniotomy headache similar in nature to a migraine, including its association with photophobia, nausea, and vomiting. This headache can be difficult to treat and can impact on postoperative recovery. Sumatriptan is used to treat migraine-like headaches in various settings. This single-centre randomized controlled trial investigated whether postoperative administration of sumatriptan after MVD surgery impacts the quality of postoperative recovery.



Fifty patients who complained of postoperative headache after MVD were randomized to receive an s.c. injection of sumatriptan (6 mg) or saline. The primary outcome was quality of recovery as measured by the Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40) score at 24 h.



The QoR-40 scores were significantly higher in the sumatriptan group (median 184; interquartile range 169-196) than in the placebo group (133; 119-155; P<0.01), suggesting higher quality of recovery. The sumatriptan group also had significantly lower headache scores at 4, 12, and 24 h. There were no significant differences in other secondary outcomes.



Use of sumatriptan improved the quality of recovery as measured by the QoR-40 and reduction of headache at 24 h after surgery. Sumatriptan is a useful alternative treatment for postcraniotomy headache. The mechanism remains unknown but could be related to reduction in headache, mood modulation, or both, mediated by a serotonin effect.



NCT01632657.
Department of Anesthesia lashmi.venkatraghavan@uhn.on.ca.
L
L
Venkatraghavan
Department of Anesthesia Present address: Department of Anaesthesia, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
L
L
Li
Department of Anesthesia Present address: Department of Anaesthesia, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand.
T
T
Bailey
Department of Anesthesia.
P H
PH
Manninen
Department of Surgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
M
M
Tymianski
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000601:surgery; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061145:Microvascular Decompression Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D018170:Sumatriptan
analgesia; headache; microvascular decompression surgery; recovery, postoperative; sumatriptan