Sphenopalatine Block in Headache in Patients With Non-traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

NCT ID: NCT06735261

Last Updated: 2025-03-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 70 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-04-01
• Study Completion Date: 2027-12-31

Brief Summary

Non-traumatic SAH, linked in 85% of cases to the rupture of an intracranial aneurysm, is a serious stroke affecting young people. Half of all survivors suffer cognitive impairment. The presentation is that of a sudden-onset, isolated headache. This population is exposed to headache during hospitalization, which lasts an average of 13 days. This length of hospitalization is due to the fact that these patients must be monitored during the potential vasospasm period that occurs between days 4 and 14 after SAH. The pain associated with SAH is a source of discomfort and increased morphine consumption during the ICU stay, particularly during the first 10 days. Current recommendations call for conventional pain management with a combination of tier 1, 2 and/or 3 analgesics. For headache control, opioids are widely prescribed, sometimes in high doses, with adverse effects, despite efforts to reduce their use. Maximum headache pain scores remain high, indicating inadequate pain management. This highlights the urgent need to study alternative opioid-sparing and analgesia strategies for patients with SAH.

Detailed Description

Sphenopalatine block is already used for certain types of facial and cranial pain, and could help save morphine consumption during hospitalization. The sphenopalatine ganglion is a crossroads for parasympathetic, sympathetic and sensory pathways. Recently studied in post-puncture dural breaches with promising results, sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGN) may appear as an interesting alternative therapy in the treatment of SAH headaches. Other advantages of this block are its simplicity, efficacy and the absence of any noticeable adverse effects at the time it is performed. What's more, it is already used routinely in our department, with rapid and effective action. The hypothesis of the trial would be to reduce morphine consumption by at least 50% for patients benefiting from BGSP, for better neurological monitoring and optimal overall pain management in SAH.

Conditions

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Adult Patients

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Control group

Pain management according to the protocol in force in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (analgesics: Paracetamol, Nefopam and morphine PCA).

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block using 2% lidocaine

Addition of (BGSP) Sphenopalatine ganglion block with Lidocaine 2% Injectable Solution (2mg/ml) 1.5ml \* 3 consecutive times maximum if EN \>3/10, to be repeated every 12h for 7 days if necessary. BGSP performed by the department's Ides after training by the anesthetists.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block using 2% lidocaine

A hollow-stem swab soaked in viscous Xylocaine is inserted into the patient's nasal cavity (one swab per nostril) until it stops. 1.5ml Lidocaine 20% (20mg/ml) is injected into each swab using a 5ml syringe and a pink trocar. Both swabs are left in place for 10 min.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• ≥ 18 years
• Non-traumatic SAH with or without aneurysm on brain imaging
• WFNS score 1 and 2
• Patient awake and extubated after radiological procedure
• Patient in pain (EN > 3/10) despite usual level 1 analgesics (Paracetamol + Acupan)
• Affiliated with or benefiting from a social security scheme

Exclusion Criteria

• Contraindication to sphenopalatine ganglion block (deviated nasal septum, repeated epistaxis, allergy to Lidocaine)
• Patient unable to assess pain by EN
• Persons covered by Articles L1121-5 to L1121-8 of the CSP and Articles 31 to 35 of Regulation 536/2014.
• Participation in other interventional research
• Patient's refusal to participate
• Arteriography more than 48 hours old
• Inaugural headache lasting more than 48 hours
• Presence of an unsecured vascular malformation at high risk of rupture

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University Hospital, Grenoble

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Central Contacts

FELIX FP PELEN, Anesthesiologist

Role: CONTACT

pfpelen@chu-grenoble.fr

04 76 76 67 29 ext. +33

Angélina AP POLLET, RESEARCH NURSE

Role: CONTACT

apollet@chu-grenoble.fr

07476766729 ext. +33

References

Nair AS, Rayani BK. Sphenopalatine ganglion block for relieving postdural puncture headache: technique and mechanism of action of block with a narrative review of efficacy. Korean J Pain. 2017 Apr;30(2):93-97. doi: 10.3344/kjp.2017.30.2.93. Epub 2017 Mar 31.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 28416992 (View on PubMed)

Hung KC, Chen JY, Ho CN, Sun CK. Use of sphenopalatine ganglion block in patients with postdural puncture headache: a pilot meta-analysis. Br J Anaesth. 2021 Jan;126(1):e25-e27. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2020.10.005. Epub 2020 Oct 31. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 33131755 (View on PubMed)

Cohen S, Levin D, Mellender S, Zhao R, Patel P, Grubb W, Kiss G. Topical Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Compared With Epidural Blood Patch for Postdural Puncture Headache Management in Postpartum Patients: A Retrospective Review. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2018 Nov;43(8):880-884. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000840.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 30063655 (View on PubMed)

Viswanathan V, Lucke-Wold B, Jones C, Aiello G, Li Y, Ayala A, Fox WC, Maciel CB, Busl KM. Change in opioid and analgesic use for headaches after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage over time. Neurochirurgie. 2021 Sep;67(5):427-432. doi: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2021.03.006. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 33771620 (View on PubMed)

Kent S, Mehaffey G. Transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block for the treatment of postdural puncture headache in obstetric patients. J Clin Anesth. 2016 Nov;34:194-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2016.04.009. Epub 2016 May 11.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 27687372 (View on PubMed)

Takmaz SA, Karaoglan M, Baltaci B, Bektas M, Basar H. Transnasal Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Management of Postdural Puncture Headache in Non-Obstetric Patients. J Nippon Med Sch. 2021;88(4):291-295. doi: 10.1272/jnms.JNMS.2021_88-406.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 34471063 (View on PubMed)

Siegler BH, Dos Santos Pereira RP, Kessler J, Wallwiener S, Wallwiener M, Larmann J, Picardi S, Carr R, Weigand MA, Oehler B. Intranasal Lidocaine Administration via Mucosal Atomization Device: A Simple and Successful Treatment for Postdural Puncture Headache in Obstetric Patients. Biomedicines. 2023 Dec 13;11(12):3296. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11123296.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 38137518 (View on PubMed)

Singh S, Iqbal J, Jahan N, Yadav R. Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for the Treatment of Severe Headache following a Ruptured Aneurysm. Neurol India. 2022 Nov-Dec;70(6):2452-2453. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.364060. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 36537435 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482479/

Lidocaine Toxicity

Other Identifiers

CHU GRENOBLE ALPES / SATURN

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id