Ultrasound-guided Maxillary Nerve Block Research Articles

Ultrasound Guided Maxillary Nerve Block for Perioperative Pain Management for Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Randomized Control Trial

Background: Proper perioperative pain management remains a cornerstone of well-conducted functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). In such a context, proper pain management entails the adequate provision of prolonged postoperative analgesia, the avoidance of overusing opioids, and consequently limiting their unwanted side effects. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effect of bilateral ultrasound-guided suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block (MNB) on postoperative pain in patients undergoing FESS. Methods: Patients eligible for FESS were randomized into two groups: the MNB group (n = 30), who underwent bilateral ultrasound-guided suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block after induction of anesthesia, and a control group (n = 30), who received multimodal analgesia, including opioids. Postoperatively, patients were observed for 48 hours. Pain scores were evaluated upon arrival to the sPACU and at 2, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours postoperatively, particularly at the time of removal of the hemostatic agent after 36 hours postoperatively. Total rescue analgesia, postoperative complications (including nausea and vomiting [PONV], hypotension, bradycardia, headache), and patient satisfaction were also diligently recorded. Results: Sixty patients who were candidates and underwent FESS surgery were enrolled randomly in both groups. The NRS pain score in the MNB group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.001), especially the NRS during the removal of the hemostatic agent at T10 was significantly lower in the MNB group (P < 0.001). However, at the 24 - hour point post-surgery, there were no significant differences between both groups (P = 0.568). Total rescue analgesia required was significantly lower in the MNB group compared with the control group (P < 0.001) throughout the first 48 hours postoperatively. The percentage of patients with no postoperative complications (nausea, vomiting, and headache) was higher in the MNB group (76.7 %) compared with the control group (40 %). Patient satisfaction was statistically significantly higher in the MNB group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Bilateral ultrasound-guided suprazygomatic MNB appeared to be safe and advantageous, as its use was associated with a decrease in total analgesic consumption, a reduction in postoperative morbidities such as pain, nausea, and vomiting, and greater patient satisfaction.

Ultrasound-Guided Suprazygomatic Maxillary Nerve Block Is Effective in Reducing Postoperative Opioid Use Following Bimaxillary Osteotomy

Ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve block has recently been described, though its impact upon bimaxillary osteotomy has not been formally investigated. The present study was carried out to determine whether the addition of ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve block in subjects undergoing bimaxillary osteotomy reduces opioid use. A randomized clinical trial was carried out in adults undergoing bimaxillary osteotomy between April 2019 and January 2020 at Teknon Medical Center (Barcelona, Spain). The predictor variable was the treatment technique used (maxillary nerve block or no block). The subjects were randomized to either receive (test group) or not receive (control group) bilateral ultrasound-guided suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block (5ml of 0.37% ropivacaine) before surgery. The primary outcome variable was the intravenous methadone requirements in the first two postoperative hours. The secondary outcome variables were postoperative pain, rescue subcutaneous methadone, intravenous remifentanil used intraoperatively, the incidence of postoperative nausea-vomiting, and complications derived from maxillary nerve block. Subject age, sex, weight, height, and anesthetic risk, and the duration of surgery were recorded. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using the χ2 test and Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical significance was considered for P<.05. The baseline sample consisted of 68 subjects scheduled for bimaxillary osteotomy. The follow-up sample comprised 60 subjects: 30 in the control group (10 females and 20 males, aged 34.0±10.2years) and 30 in the test group (13 females and 17 males, aged 29.8±10.8years). The subjects who received maxillary nerve block showed less intravenous methadone use in the first 2hours postsurgery (median 2.0mg control group vs 0mg test group; P<.001), lower pain levels at any time during the first 18hours postsurgery (median visual analog score 4 control group vs 2 test group; P<.001), and a lesser percentage required methadone (33.3% control group vs 0% test group; P<.01) at 4-18hours postsurgery. The results obtained suggest that ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve block is a promising anesthetic technique capable of reducing intraoperative and postoperative opioid use, with greater patient comfort in bimaxillary osteotomy.

Ultrasound-guided Maxillary Nerve Block and Superficial Cervical Plexus Block during Surgery for Maxillary Malignancy : A Case Report

Ultrasound-guided Maxillary Nerve Block and Superficial Cervical Plexus Block during Surgery for Maxillary Malignancy : A Case Report

Technical considerations for approaches to the ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve block via the pterygopalatine fossa: a literature review

Background and objectivesBlockade of the trigeminal nerve and its branches is an effective diagnostic tool and potential treatment of facial pain. Ultrasound-guided injections in the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) to block...

Ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve block: an anatomical study using the suprazygomatic approach.

Although a maxillary nerve (MN) block reportedly provides satisfactory analgesia for midface surgery and chronic maxillofacial pain syndromes, a safe and reliable MN block technique has not been reported. The goal of this anatomical study was to quantify the various angles and depth of the block needle, as well as to evaluate the impact of volume on the extent of injectate spread that might influence anesthetic coverage and block-related complications. Following an ultrasound-guided suprazygomatic MN block with dye injection, a dissection was performed in the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) of four lightly embalmed cadaveric specimens. Half of the specimens were injected with 5 mL of dye, and the other half with 1 mL of dye. The needle depth was measured from the ultrasound images and using rubber markers. Following injection, dissection was performed to map the area of dye spread. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] distance from the skin to the PPF was 37 [36-43] mm and 47 [40-50] mm by ultrasound and rubber marker methods, respectively. The median [IQR] needle orientation was 14 [11-32] degrees inferiorly and 15 [10-17] degrees posteriorly. The PPF was consistently dyed in the 5 mL group, but sporadically dyed in the 1 mL group. In the 5 mL group, spread outside of the PPF was seen. We showed that 5 mL of injectate far exceeds the capacity of the PPF, leading to drug spread outside of the PPF. Moreover, we found that 1 mL of injectate largely covered the nerve, suggesting a more efficacious and safer block procedure. This finding will need confirmation in future clinical studies.

Ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve block via the pterygopalatine fossa: anterior versus posterior infrazygomatic approach.

To the Editor: We congratulate Wirinaree Kampitak et al for their interesting cadaveric study[1][1] to assess the accuracy and feasibility of a novel technique for ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve block using the lateral pterygoid plate approach via the pterygopalatine fossa by an anterior

Blind versus ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve block in donkeys

ObjectivesTo describe the ‘blind’ and ultrasound-guided approaches to block the maxillary nerve in donkeys. To compare the success and complication rates between the ‘blind’ and ultrasound-guided techniques based on staining of nerves and other structures in cadavers and assessing level of analgesia in live animals. Study designProspective anatomical and experimental study. AnimalsEighteen cadaver heads and nine adult live donkeys. MethodsPhase 1: the anatomical characteristics of the maxillary nerve and its related structures were investigated within the pterygopalatine fossa in five cadavers. Phase 2: 0.1 mL of methylene blue dye was injected blindly and via ultrasound guidance in 13 cadavers to stain the left and right maxillary nerves, respectively. Nerve staining and dye spreading were evaluated through cadaver dissection. Phase 3: the former procedures were applied in nine live donkeys using lidocaine hydrochloride 2% and the onset of analgesia was verified through needle pricking at the naris. ResultsUltrasound-guided deposition of methylene blue dye in cadavers and lidocaine injection in live animals were successful in all instances (accuracy = 100%) without inadvertent vascular penetration. Using the ‘blind’ technique, misdirection and intravascular deposition of dye were reported in four cadavers (accuracy = 69.2%) and neurovascular trauma was observed in live donkeys (five cases). Loss of cutaneous sensation in the ipsilateral naris was earlier in the ultrasound-guided approach (10.9 ± 1.8 minutes) than in the ‘blind’ technique (27.8 ± 3.2 minutes; p < 0.001). Conclusions and clinical relevanceAn ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve blockade proved very practical and can be used to block the maxillary nerve with a high degree of accuracy while avoiding vascular penetration. Further studies are mandatory to validate its analgesic effectiveness in clinical situations.