Intraoperative sensitization in trigeminal region caused by postherpetic neuralgia: a case report

Abstract Background Interventional therapy of trigeminal neuropathic pain has been well documented; however, intraoperative monitoring and management of pain hypersensitivity remains barely reported, which may pose a great challenge for pain physicians as well as anesthesiologists. Case presentation...

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Main Authors: Gangwen Guo, Dan Li, Hongyan Li, Rong Hu, Haocheng Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Medical Case Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05033-4
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author Gangwen Guo
Dan Li
Hongyan Li
Rong Hu
Haocheng Zhou
author_facet Gangwen Guo
Dan Li
Hongyan Li
Rong Hu
Haocheng Zhou
author_sort Gangwen Guo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Interventional therapy of trigeminal neuropathic pain has been well documented; however, intraoperative monitoring and management of pain hypersensitivity remains barely reported, which may pose a great challenge for pain physicians as well as anesthesiologists. Case presentation A 77-year-old Han Chinese male, who suffered from severe craniofacial postherpetic neuralgia, underwent pulsed radiofrequency of trigeminal ganglion in the authors’ department twice. The authors successfully placed a radiofrequency needle through the foramen ovale during the first procedure with local anesthesia and intravenous sedation (dexmedetomidine). The patient reported about 50% pain reduction postoperatively, and the second procedure was performed 1 week later. However, the intraoperative administration of sedative agents was suspended owing to hemodynamic instability during the second session. As a result, the patient displayed hypersensitivity to the percutaneous operation under local anesthesia and the authors failed to place the needle inside the Meckel’s cave for uncontrollable breakthrough pain. The patient still needed to take oral medication for pain control, oxycodone (10–20 mg, every 12 hours) and pregabalin (75 mg, two times a day) in the last follow-up at 1.5 years after discharge. Conclusion The authors report a failure case of percutaneous puncturing operation with trigeminal neuropathic pain, potentially caused by intraoperative sensitization. It is essential to monitor and prevent hypersensitivity to both innoxious and noxious stimuli in patients with neuropathic pain syndrome, especially at surgical sites close to the area of nerve injury.
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spelling doaj-art-d4d2f3f169a24d7482eb66b6c7a7bbc02025-01-19T12:25:09ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472025-01-011911410.1186/s13256-025-05033-4Intraoperative sensitization in trigeminal region caused by postherpetic neuralgia: a case reportGangwen Guo0Dan Li1Hongyan Li2Rong Hu3Haocheng Zhou4Department of Pain, The Third Xiangya Hospital and Institute of Pain Medicine, Central South UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversitySchool of Information Engineering, Changsha Medical UniversityDepartment of Pain, The Third Xiangya Hospital and Institute of Pain Medicine, Central South UniversityDepartment of Pain, The Third Xiangya Hospital and Institute of Pain Medicine, Central South UniversityAbstract Background Interventional therapy of trigeminal neuropathic pain has been well documented; however, intraoperative monitoring and management of pain hypersensitivity remains barely reported, which may pose a great challenge for pain physicians as well as anesthesiologists. Case presentation A 77-year-old Han Chinese male, who suffered from severe craniofacial postherpetic neuralgia, underwent pulsed radiofrequency of trigeminal ganglion in the authors’ department twice. The authors successfully placed a radiofrequency needle through the foramen ovale during the first procedure with local anesthesia and intravenous sedation (dexmedetomidine). The patient reported about 50% pain reduction postoperatively, and the second procedure was performed 1 week later. However, the intraoperative administration of sedative agents was suspended owing to hemodynamic instability during the second session. As a result, the patient displayed hypersensitivity to the percutaneous operation under local anesthesia and the authors failed to place the needle inside the Meckel’s cave for uncontrollable breakthrough pain. The patient still needed to take oral medication for pain control, oxycodone (10–20 mg, every 12 hours) and pregabalin (75 mg, two times a day) in the last follow-up at 1.5 years after discharge. Conclusion The authors report a failure case of percutaneous puncturing operation with trigeminal neuropathic pain, potentially caused by intraoperative sensitization. It is essential to monitor and prevent hypersensitivity to both innoxious and noxious stimuli in patients with neuropathic pain syndrome, especially at surgical sites close to the area of nerve injury.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05033-4IntraoperativeSensitizationAllodyniaHyperalgesiaTrigeminal postherpetic neuralgiaCase report
spellingShingle Gangwen Guo
Dan Li
Hongyan Li
Rong Hu
Haocheng Zhou
Intraoperative sensitization in trigeminal region caused by postherpetic neuralgia: a case report
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Intraoperative
Sensitization
Allodynia
Hyperalgesia
Trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia
Case report
title Intraoperative sensitization in trigeminal region caused by postherpetic neuralgia: a case report
title_full Intraoperative sensitization in trigeminal region caused by postherpetic neuralgia: a case report
title_fullStr Intraoperative sensitization in trigeminal region caused by postherpetic neuralgia: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Intraoperative sensitization in trigeminal region caused by postherpetic neuralgia: a case report
title_short Intraoperative sensitization in trigeminal region caused by postherpetic neuralgia: a case report
title_sort intraoperative sensitization in trigeminal region caused by postherpetic neuralgia a case report
topic Intraoperative
Sensitization
Allodynia
Hyperalgesia
Trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia
Case report
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05033-4
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AT hongyanli intraoperativesensitizationintrigeminalregioncausedbypostherpeticneuralgiaacasereport
AT ronghu intraoperativesensitizationintrigeminalregioncausedbypostherpeticneuralgiaacasereport
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