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Standard Pulsed Radiofrequency Versus Supervoltage Pulsed Radiofrequency Glossopharyngeal Nerve in Oropharyngeal Cancer Pain

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Super Voltage Pulsed Radiofrequency
Pain
Oropharyngeal Cancer
Pulsed Radiofrequency
Glossopharyngeal Nerve
Interventions
Procedure: Standard voltage pulsed radiofrequency glossopharyngeal nerve block
Procedure: Supervoltage pulsed radiofrequency glossopharyngeal nerve block
Registration Number
NCT06121102
Lead Sponsor
National Cancer Institute, Egypt
Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of supervoltage pulsed radiofrequency glossopharyngeal nerve therapy versus standard pulsed radiofrequency in reduction of oropharyngeal cancer pain, through Visual analog scale score reduction.

Detailed Description

The glossopharyngeal nerve is the 9th cranial nerve. It has motor, sensory and parasympathetic function like trigeminal and facial nerves. It has its origin in the medulla oblongata and exits the skull via the jugular foramen, close to vagus and accessory nerves, together with the internal carotid artery and sympathetic nerves and terminates in the pharynx between the superior and middle pharyngeal constrictors, splitting into its terminal branches - lingual, pharyngeal, and tonsillar. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is an extremely uncommon occurrence and accounts for only 0.2%-1.3% of the cases with facial pain. It usually affects the male individuals above 50-year age, and the reported incidence of glossopharyngeal neuralgia is roughly 0.8 per 100,000 persons per year. As per ICHD-3 (International Classification of Headache Disease- 3) classification, glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a disease characterized by an episodic unilateral pain, with sharp and stabbing in character, with sudden onset and cessation, in the glossopharyngeal nerve distribution (jaw angle, ear, tonsillar fossa and the base of the tongue). It also affect the pharyngeal and auricular branches of the vagus nerve. Pain is commonly aggravated by coughing, talking, and swallowing. Pain in glossopharyngeal neuralgia has a relapsing and remitting pattern. Vaso glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be associated with life-threatening cardiovascular features- syncope, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, in contrast to trigeminal neuralgia

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥ 18 and ≤ 70 Years.
  • Both sexes
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class II and III.
  • Patients under pain management for oropharyngeal cancer (failed medical treatment or intolerance to the side effects of the drug).
  • Visual analog scale (VAS) equal to or more than 6 cm in spite medical treatment.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patient refusal.
  • Patients with local or systemic sepsis.
  • Uncorrectable coagulopathy.
  • Unstable cardiovascular disease.
  • History of psychiatric and cognitive disorders.
  • Patients allergic to medication used.7
  • Unable to lie supine.
  • Local anatomical distortion (either congenital, post-surgical or post-radiotherapy) making intervention difficult and hazardous.
  • Elongated styloid process > 25 mm.
  • Age less than 18 year and more than 70 year.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group B (standard voltage pulsed radiofrequency glossopharyngeal nerve block)Standard voltage pulsed radiofrequency glossopharyngeal nerve blockPatients will receive standard voltage pulsed radiofrequency glossopharyngeal nerve block.
Group A (supervoltage pulsed radiofrequency glossopharyngeal nerve block)Supervoltage pulsed radiofrequency glossopharyngeal nerve blockPatients will receive supervoltage pulsed radiofrequency glossopharyngeal nerve block.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The degree of pain3 months after the procedure

Each patient will be instructed about pain assessment with the visual analog scale (VAS) score. VAS(0 represents "no pain" while 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable").

VAS score will be measured at the following times: pre-procedure, day 1 after the procedure, 1,2,3,4 Weeks after the procedure, 2,3 Months after the procedure.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Patient satisfaction score1 month after the block

Patient satisfaction score will be assessed as the following, how satisfied are the patient with the results of the procedure ? very satisfied = 5, somewhat satisfied = 4, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied = 3, somewhat dissatisfied = 2, very dissatisfied =1 It will be assessed at the following times: 24 hours after the block, 1,2 weeks after the block, 1month after the block

Morphine consumption3 months after the procedure

Morphine sulphate tablets drugs consumption will be recorded pre-procedure, day 1 after the procedure, 1,2,3,4 weeks after the procedure, 2,3 Months after the procedure.

Gabapentin consumption3 months after the procedure

Gabapentin capsules drugs consumption will be recorded before the block and 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4weeks, 2 months and 3 months afterwards.

Percentage of functional improvement1 month after the procedure

This is a self-reported analysis for the primary outcome after performing pain interventions. It is divided into 4 categories (0-25%)= no or minimal functional improvement, (more than 25-50%)= mild improvement, (more than 50-75%)= moderate improvement, and (more than 75-100%)= marked improvement.

Quality of life score12 weeks after the procedure

Quality of life score improvement using the Flanagan quality of life scale (QOLS) ,which is a 16 -item (domain) questionnaire with each item scored from 1 to 7 points.

The scale will be explained to the patient by the pain physician, and the total score will be calculated and recorded at the preoperative10 assessment (base line) and at postoperative weeks 2,3,4, 8 and 12.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Cairo University

🇪🇬

Cairo, Egypt

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