Abstract

MARTINEZ-SUAREZ, J. E.; SALVA, S.  and  JONGH, W. A. de. Gasserian thermocoagulation and microcompression with balloon catheter in trigeminal neuralgia. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2005, vol.12, n.1, pp.3-7. ISSN 1134-8046.

We present 180 patients diagnosed of trigeminal neuralgia, 90 of which underwent percutaneous thermocoagulation of the Gasser's ganglion with radiofrequency and the other 90 underwent retrogasserian percutaneous microcompression with Fogarty balloon catheter. Our main purpose was to relief facial pain in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. We review the results of both techniques and describe different aspects such as clinicotopographic classification of the branches involved, evolution, short-term and long-term surgical results (taking as lower limit one year after the surgery), as well as complications and benefits of the two surgical procedures. In both cases, good surgical results were obtained in excess of 90%.

Keywords : Gasserian thermocoagulation; Microcompression; Fogarty balloon catheter; Trigeminal neuralgia.

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