Specialist Endovascular

Sphenopalatine Ganglion Injection

Also known as a sphenopalatine ganglion block.
 
This is a procedure which anaesthetises a special cluster of nerve cells, or ganglion, in the face.  
 
It is used to treat a variety of conditions, most commonly those relating to facial pain.
 
A very fine needle is introduced from the side of the cheek where local anaesthetic is introduced to numb the skin.  After the skin is numbed, a needle is advanced to the correct position, which is confirmed with XRay.  When the needle is confirmed in the appropriate location then a mixture of local anaesthetics is infused.  If appropriate, steroid may also be introduced at this time.
 
You will be asked to keep a diary where you record your pain levels for the following week, three times a day.  This will enable your treating doctor to assess your response to the injection, which will help determine the cause of your pain, and guide any future treatment if necessary.
 
As with all procedures there are some risks to take into account.  These include the risk of the injection not relieving the symptoms and the very rare complications of infection, epistaxis (nose bleed) and visual loss.