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Microvascular decompression for a unique case of glossopharyngeal neuralgia with provokable symptomatic bradycardia: 2-Dimensional operative video.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare neurovascular compression syndrome that can lead to paroxysmal craniofacial pain and sometimes cardiovascular symptoms.[1,2] The characteristic pathology involves a vessel (commonly a branch/loop of PICA) compressing the nerve at the root entry/exit zone at the brainstem.[1] Microvascular decompression is a commonly used treatment approach for patients that have failed conservative measures.[2].

Case description

A 72-year-old male presented to the ED following four episodes of syncope. The patient had a multi-year history of right-sided burning/stabbing pain involving the submandibular area and posterior throat. His syncope was related to symptomatic bradycardia that would occur during episodes of pain. His pain was exacerbated by speaking and swallowing and could be triggered by placing his finger in the right external auditory meatus. Interestingly, this maneuver would also trigger his bradycardia. The patient had failed previous pharmacotherapy, and a pacemaker had been placed to protect him from periods of hypotension. MRI/MRA of the brain and cervical spine were unremarkable. Due to his profoundly symptomatic status, the patient was offered a right retrosigmoid craniotomy for microvascular decompression of the right glossopharyngeal nerve. The patient had complete resolution of his pain and bradycardia immediately post-operatively. He was discharged on the second postoperative day and his pacemaker was ultimately removed. The patient continues to be pain free and off medication.

Conclusion

Here we present a video case report of microvascular decompression with favorable outcome for an interesting presentation of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. The patient gave informed consent for surgery and video recording.

SUBMITTER: Sardar TA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8645479 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundMicrovascular decompression (MVD) is already the preferred surgical treatment for medically refractory neurovascular compression syndromes (NVC) such as hemifacial spasm (HFS), trigeminal neuralgia (TN), and glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN). Endoscopy has significantly advanced surgery and provides enhanced visualization of MVD. The aim of this study is to analyze the efficacy and safety of fully endoscopic microvascular decompression (E-MVD) for the treatment of HFS, TN, and GPN, as well as to present our initial experience.Materials and methodsThis retrospective case series investigated fully E-MVD performed in 248 patients (123 patients with HFS, 115 patients with TN, and 10 patients with GPN ) from December 2008 to October 2021 at a single institution. The operation duration, clinical outcomes, responsible vessels, intra- and postoperative complications, and recurrences were recorded. Preoperative and immediate postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) were performed for imageological evaluation. The Shorr grading and Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain score were used to evaluate clinical outcomes. The efficacy, safety, and risk factors related to the recurrence of the operation were retrospectively analysed, and the surgical techniques of fully E-MVD were summarised.ResultsA total of 248 patients (103 males) met the inclusion criteria and underwent fully E-MVD were retrospectively studied. The effective rate of 123 patients with HFS was 99.1%, of which 113 cases were completely relieved and 9 cases were significantly relieved. The effective rate of 115 patients with TN was 98.9%, of which 105 cases had completely pain relieved after surgery, 5 cases had significant pain relieved, 4 cases had partial pain relieved but still needed to be controlled by medication. The effective rate of 10 patients with GPN was 100%, 10 cases of GPN were completely relieved after surgery. As for complications, temporary facial numbness occurred in 4 cases, temporary hearing loss in 5 cases, dizziness with frequent nausea and vomiting in 8 cases, headache in 12 cases, and no cerebral hemorrhage, intracranial infection, and other complications occurred. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 42 months, with a mean of 18.6 ± 3.3 months. There were 4 cases of recurrence of HFS and 11 cases of recurrence of TN. The other effective patients had no recurrence or worsening of postoperative symptoms. The cerebellopontine angle (CPA) area ratio (healthy/affected side), the length of disease duration, and the type of responsible vessels are the risk factors related to the recurrence of HFS, TN, and GPN treated by fully E-MVD.ConclusionsIn this retrospective study, our results suggest that the fully E-MVD for the treatment of NVC such as HFS, TN, and GPN, is a safe and effective surgical method. Fully E-MVD for the treatment of NVC has advantages and techniques not available with microscopic MVD, which may reduce the incidence of surgical complications while improving the curative effect and reducing the recurrence rate.

Project description:ObjectiveTo compare complete neuroendoscopic and microscopic microvascular decompression (MVD) in primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) and their impacts on the microstructure of the trigeminal nerve.MethodsEighty-seven PTN patients admitted in our hospital from July 2017 to December 2019 were selected for this prospective study and divided into the endoscopic group (n=45) (complete neuroendoscopic MVD) and the microscope group (n=42) (microscopic MVD) according to the treatment method each patient underwent. All the patients underwent MRI scanning, and the fractional anisotropy (FA) scores and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the neurovascular compression (NVC) sites were measured. The operation times, the treatment efficacy, the microstructural changes in the trigeminal nerve, the complications, and the recurrence and mortality rates at one year after the operations were compared.ResultsThe endoscopic group observed a superior therapeutic effect compared with the microscope group one year after the surgeries (P=0.046). After the surgeries, the endoscopic group observed a greater increase in their FA values and a larger decline in their ADC values than the microscope group did (P=0.014, 0.015, 0.011, 0.002). The complication rate in the endoscopic group was 11.11%, and the complication rate in the microscopic group was 30.95% (P=0.022). One year after the surgeries, we found a lower recurrence rate in the endoscopic group (P=0.001). The perforator vessels from the offending vessel to the outlet area of the durmedulla, the distances between the front edge of the bone window and the inner surfaces of the petrous part of the temporal bone ≥ the distance between the duration ≥ the duration of conventional MVD were independent risk factors for complications after MVD in the hemifacial spasm patients (P=0.001, 0.037, 0.023, 0.005).ConclusionComplete neuroendoscopic MV yields better long-term treatment outcomes than microscopic MVD, and it is more effective at improving the microstructure of the trigeminal nerve and has fewer postoperative complications.