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The Pterygopalatine Ganglion and its Role in Various Pain Syndromes: From Anatomy to Clinical Practice
Author(s) -
Piagkou Maria,
Demesticha Theano,
Troupis Theodore,
Vlasis Konstantinos,
Skandalakis Panayiotis,
Makri Aggeliki,
Mazarakis Antonios,
Lappas Dimitrios,
Piagkos Giannoulis,
Johnson Elizabeth O
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2011.00507.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pterygopalatine fossa , ganglion , vasomotor rhinitis , anesthesia , cluster headache , nociceptor , surgery , anatomy , nociception , migraine , skull , receptor
The postsynaptic fibers of the pterygopalatine or sphenopalatine ganglion (PPG or SPG) supply the lacrimal and nasal glands. The PPG appears to play an important role in various pain syndromes including headaches, trigeminal and sphenopalatine neuralgia, atypical facial pain, muscle pain, vasomotor rhinitis, eye disorders, and herpes infection. Clinical trials have shown that these pain disorders can be managed effectively with sphenopalatine ganglion blockade (SPGB). In addition, regional anesthesia of the distribution area of the SPG sensory fibers for nasal and dental surgery can be provided by SPGB via a transnasal, transoral, or lateral infratemporal approach. To arouse the interest of the modern‐day clinicians in the use of the SPGB, the advantages, disadvantages, and modifications of the available methods for blockade are discussed.▪