Trigeminal Neuralgia Flashcards
Trigeminal Neuralgia (Define)
Disease affecting the 5TH cranial or Trigeminal nerve –> Abrupt agonizing one sided pain effecting area innervated by nerve
(gums, cheek, forehead, nose)
Age (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
40+
Gender (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Women
Risk Factors (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
hypertension, MS, herpes, teeth/jaw infection, brainstem infarct
Onset (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Abrupt, Several times a day for weeks-months, then periods of emission for days-years
Pain (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Excruciating
hesitant to eat, work, talk; some suicides r/t pain
Trigger Zones (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
zone that will initiate pain with benign event
- stimulus can be cold air, movement, touch, sneeze, cough
Treatment (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Anti-epileptics Nerve Blocking Glycerol Rhizotomy Microvascular Decompression Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy
Anti-epileptics (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Carbamezapine/Tegretol
→Reduces firing, stabilize nerve cell membrane
Nerve Blocking (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
(works 6-18 mod)
Glycerol Rhizotomy (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Percutaneous injection of glycerol
Intraoperative-evaluate function
Microvascular Decompression (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Blood vessels are relocated or removed High Risk (invasive procedure), High success Instant relief
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery & Percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy
(Trigeminal Neuralgia)
- Form of rad., thermal energy –>Local destruction to nerve root
- effective @ providing pain relief
Postoperative (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
corneal reflex, extraoccular muscles, hearing, facial expression and sensation
-Provide Eye Protection
Nursing Management (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Pain is priority
