• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.82-85
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• 1997

Destruction of the gasserian ganglion can be carried out by creating a radiofrequency lesion under biplanar fluoroscopic guidance. This procedure is reserved for patients who have failed various interventions for intractable trigeminal neuralgia including retro-gasserian injection of glycerol and whose physical status otherwise precludes more invasive neuro-surgical treatments such as microvascular decompression. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the gasserian ganglion provides a safe method of achieving long-standing relief from trigeminal neuralgia with low risk. This technique is currently emerging worldwide as the surgical treatment of choice for trigeminal neuralgia. Recently we performed a successful radiofrequency gasserian ganglionotomy, without any complication, under fluoroscopic guidance. The procedure was successful and complete pain relief was achieved for a patient who already had treatments of various interventions including microvascular decompression but never experienced pain relief.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.183-186
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• 1996

When medical therapy fail to relieve pain at tolerable level for patients confirmed with trigeminal neuralgia, presence of mass lesion excluded, surgery is indicated. Innumerable surgical strategies have been attempted for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia but only four have proven appropriate: (1)stereotactic radiofrequency gasserian ganglionotomy, (2) percutaneous glycerol gangliolysis, (3) percutaneous microcompression, (4) microvascular decompression. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the gasserian ganglion stems from the efforts of Sweet. This technique is the surgical treatment of choice around the world for surgical treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. Since 1986, over 14,000 cases have been reported utilizing this technique. To improve the treatment method further, an electrode with a flexible curved tip has been developed for easier and more precise electrode placement and lesion production during the thermocoagulation of gasserian ganglion. This operation was performed recently on three patients at Hallym University Hospital. using a curved tip electrode. Complete relief of pain was achieved for all patient. However, some complications were noted.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.261-265
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• 2001

Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the gasserian ganglion is a safe procedure that can be controlled well and provides satisfactory pain relief from trigeminal neuralgia with low risk. Here the authors report a case of radiofrequency thermocoagulation performed on a recurred trigeminal neuralgia patient, with particular attention to the V3 area. The patient was treated with microvascular decompression 7 years previous, which lead to untolerable side effects from carbamazepine medication. Following the paresthesia and masseter muscle contracture test at 50 Hz-0.06 volt and 2 Hz-0.5 volt respectively, RF lesionings were performed for 60 sec at $60^{\circ}C$ and 70 sec at $70^{\circ}C$. One week after the procedure, the pain was reduced with a mild hypoesthesia in the V2 area. After 6 months, the pain recurred. Therefore, we performed the same procedure again. After 8-months of follow-up, there has been no pain or complications.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.302-306
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• 1998

The authors report the result achieved in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia patient, especially V2 involved patient, using radiofrequency (RF) thermocoagulation of Gasserian ganglion. A 62-year old female patient had severe burning pain on right cheek usually initiating from upper molar teeth area for 10 years. She was treated with microvascular decompression operation 10 years ago. However, there was no pain relief by operation. She wanted non-surgical treatment. Therefore, we recommended RF thermocoagulation therapy. After 2 times of RF thermocoagulation, there was excellent pain relief without complications. And, for 6months follow-up, there were no pain, and no evidences of complication and recurrence.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권5호
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• pp.827-836
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• 2021

Objective : Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most common causes of facial pain. Our aim is to investigate the efficacy and borders of percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Methods : Between May 2007 and April 2017, 156 patients with trigeminal neuralgia were treated with radiofrequency thermocoagulation. These 156 patients underwent 209 procedures. In our study, we investigated the early and late results of percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation under guiding fluoroscopic imaging in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain scale was used for grading the early results. In addition, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess long-term outcomes. Of the 156 patients who underwent radiofrequency thermocoagulation for trigeminal neuralgia, 45 had additional disease. Patients with this condition were evaluated with their comorbidities. Early and late results were compared with those without comorbidity. Results : In 193 of 209 interventions BNI pain scale I to III results were obtained. Out of the 193 successful operation 136 patients (65.07%) were discharged as BNI I, 14 (6.70%) as BNI II, 43 (20.58%) as BNI III. Sixteen patients (7.65%) remained uncontrolled (BNI IV and V). While the treatment results of trigeminal neuralgia patients with comorbidity seem more successful in the early period, this difference was not observed in follow-up examinations. Conclusion : Finally, we concluded that percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the Gasserian ganglion is a safe and effective method in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. However, over time, the effectiveness of the treatment decreases. Neverthless, the reapprability of this intervention gives it a distinct advantage.