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Fluoroscopy-guided suprazygomatic approach to pterygopalatine fossa block: a brief technical report
  1. Pedro Hilton de Andrade Filho1,2,
  2. Camila Lobo Ferreira2,
  3. João Fernando Paulichenco Mantoan2,
  4. Charles Amaral de Oliveira2,
  5. Fabricio Dias Assis2 and
  6. Miles Day3
  1. 1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  2. 2Singular—Pain Management Center, Campinas, Brazil
  3. 3Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Pedro Hilton de Andrade Filho; pedrohafilho{at}usp.br

Abstract

Background The pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) is a compartment with rich autonomic and somatic innervation of the head, making it a crucial target for pain management interventions. Among the various techniques described, the suprazygomatic approach to the PPF may be one of the safest. However, the application of fluoroscopy to guide this approach has not been previously reported.

Methods To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature describing a fluoroscopy-guided suprazygomatic approach to the PPF block. This brief technical report provides a step-by-step description of the technique and presents five cases demonstrating its implementation.

Results Five cases were successfully performed using the fluoroscopy-guided suprazygomatic approach for the management of primary and secondary headache disorders. The findings demonstrate that the technique is feasible, safe, and effective.

Conclusions The fluoroscopy-guided suprazygomatic approach to the PPF offers a viable alternative to traditional methods and deserves further consideration in clinical practice.

  • Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures
  • Headache
  • Facial Pain

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Footnotes

  • Contributors All authors discussed and contributed to the final manuscript. PHdAF is the guarantor.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.