Postoperative Pain and Functional Patient Outcomes After Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

The sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) with local anesthetic is used to treat facial pain
and headache of various etiologies and has been widely used during functional endoscopic
sinus surgery (FESS). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether preemptive SPGB
may positively impact postoperative pain and functional outcomes after FESS.

A prospective, double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study was performed. 60 patients
(18 to 70 yrs), undergoing general anesthesia for bilateral FESS, were randomly assigned to
receive SPGB with either 2 ml 0.25% bupivacaine with epinephrine 1:100,000 (BP, treatment
group) or normal saline (NS, control group). SPGB was performed preemptively 10 min before
the start of surgery. Pre- and post operative (day#0, day#7, day#30) visual analogue pain
scale, SNOT-20, CT & Endoscopic scores were compared between the two groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. The study subjects will be 18-70 year old.

2. The subjects will be American Society of Anesthesiology physical status I and II
patients.

3. Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, presenting for bilateral functional endoscopic
sinus surgery.

4. The subjects should understand informed consent and study instructions, AND 5. The
subjects should not participate in any other research protocols.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with pre-existing chronic facial pain not related to chronic rhinosinusitis.

2. Patients with pre-existing chronic pain of different etiology.

3. Patients taking prescription pain medications.

4. Patients taking antidepressant medications.

5. Patients taking over-the-counter pain medications within 48 hours of scheduled
surgery.

6. Patients in whom oral opioid-containing analgesics would be contraindicated
postoperatively.

7. Patients with a known or suspected genetic susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia,
or known sensitivity to Desflurane or other halogenated agents.

8. Patients with the history of arrhythmias or significant coronary artery disease.

9. Patients with psychological disorders.

10. Patients who are unable to understand the questionnaires or the visual analogue scale
(VAS) pain scores.

11. Patients with the history of substance or alcohol abuse.

12. Patients with compromised renal and liver function.

13. Patients with abnormal coagulation status or platelet count less than 100,000.

14. Pregnant patients.

15. Patients with an allergy to Bupivacaine, Lidocaine or Epinephrine.

16. Other patients that may be excluded by the investigator, based on medical history and
physical examination