Use of occipital nerve block in emergency department treatment of status migrainosus

A Randomized, Double-Dummy, Emergency Department-Based Study of Greater Occipital Nerve Block With Bupivacaine vs Intravenous Metoclopramide for Treatment of Migraine

BACKGROUND

Greater occipital nerve blocks (GONB) are used increasingly to treat acute migraine.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine whether GONB was as effective as intravenous metoclopramide for migraine.

METHODS

This was a double-dummy, double-blind, parallel-arm, non-inferiority study conducted in 2 emergency departments (EDs). Patients with migraine of moderate or severe intensity were randomized to receive bilateral GONB with each side administered 3 mL of bupivacaine 0.5% or metoclopramide 10 mg IV, the putative standard of care. The primary outcome was improvement in pain on a 0-10 scale between time 0 and 1 hour later. To reject the null hypothesis that metoclopramide would be more efficacious in relieving pain, we required that the lower limit of the 95% CI for the difference in pain improvement between those randomized to GONB vs those randomized to metoclopramide be >-1.3, a validated minimum clinically important difference. Secondary outcomes included sustained headache relief, defined as achieving and maintaining for 48 hours a headache level of mild or none without the use of additional analgesic medication, and the use of rescue medication in the ED.

RESULTS

Over a 2.5-year study period, 1358 patients were screened for participation and 99 were randomized, 51 to GONB and 48 to metoclopramide. All of these patients were included in the primary analysis. Patients who received the GONB reported mean improvement of 5.0 (95% CI: 4.1, 5.8) while those who received metoclopramide reported a larger mean improvement of 6.1 (95% CI: 5.2, 6.9). The 95% CI for the between group difference of -1.1 was -2.3, 0.1. Sustained headache relief was reported by 11/51 (22%) GONB and 18/47 (38%) metoclopramide patients (95% CI for rounded difference of 17%: -1, 35%). Of the 51 GONB patients, 17 (33%) required rescue medication in the ED vs 8/48 (17%) metoclopramide patients (95% CI for rounded difference of 17%: 0, 33%). An adverse event was reported by 16/51 (31%) GONB patients and 18/48 (38%) metoclopramide patients (95% CI for (rounded) difference of 6%: -13, 25%).

CONCLUSION

GONB with bupivacaine was not as efficacious as IV metoclopramide for the first-line treatment of migraine in the ED.

Case Report: Treatment of Refractory Post-Surgical Neuralgia With Erector Spinae Plane Block

BACKGROUND

Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) are used for a wide spectrum of headache and facial pain disorders. The objective of this case report is to highlight the erector spinae plane (ESP) block, which has recently been reported to successfully treat headache.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 70-year-old man with a history of mild to moderate headaches, previously ruptured aneurysm, and right pterional craniotomy and clipping of an anterior communicating artery aneurysm presented with exacerbation of chronic post-surgical scalp pain and severe headache with nausea. Results of the physical examination were not consistent with cellulitis of the scalp, complete blood count and chemistry panel results were unremarkable, and imaging revealed an intact aneurysm clip. Given the severe unilateral throbbing pain with associated nausea, he was treated with a variety of migraine abortives and other pain medications without significant relief. ESP block was performed. He tolerated the procedure well without complications. His pain decreased to 2/10 from a baseline of 9 to 10/10 30 minutes after the procedure, and he was pain free the next day. Follow-up revealed a return of his pain 1 to 2 weeks after the procedure, which prompted follow-up with an outpatient pain management specialist.

CONCLUSION

PNBs, ESP block in our case, can be a useful modality in managing chronic neuralgiform pain for treatment-refractory patients. It can provide improvement in quality of life and spare the patient from medication side effects. In an inpatient setting, it can decrease length of stay that would otherwise be extended due to a trial of multiple medications until the pain was controlled. PNBs are used for a wide spectrum of headache and facial pain disorders. This case report highlights successful management of chronic neuralgiform pain with the ESP block, which has recently been reported to successfully treat headache. ESP block provided relief to the patient's neuralgiform pain that was refractory to multiple medications, resulting in decreased length of stay, fewer medication side effects, and improved quality of life. It also provided a window for initiation of long-term pain medications.

The Public's Perception of Interventions for Migraine Headache Disorders: A Crowdsourcing Population-Based Study

Background

Migraine disorders are a leading cause of morbidity and decreased economic productivity in the United States among both men and women. As such, it is important to consider patient opinions, and have an accurate representation of the burden and sentiment toward currently available interventions among those suffering from migraines.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to assess patient options regarding adverse outcomes of the various treatment options available for migraine headaches.

Methods

A prospective cross-sectional study of volunteers recruited through an internet crowdsourcing service, Amazon Mechanical Turk©, was conducted. Surveys were administered to collect patient-reported opinions regarding adverse outcomes of both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for migraine headaches.

Results

The prevalence of migraine headache across all study participants was 15.6% and varied slightly across participant demographics. Individuals ages 35–44 (2.73 migraines per month) experienced the fewest migraine and with the lowest severity. Those individuals ages 45+ experienced the most severe headaches (Visual Analog Scale = 44.23 mm). Additionally, the greatest migraine frequency and severity existed among those households with yearly income of $75,000–$100,000. The lowest injection therapy utility scores were obtained for adverse outcomes of hematoma (47.60 mm) and vertigo (54.40 mm).

Conclusions

Migraine headaches remains a significant problem among the US population, with an overall prevalence of 15.6% (approximately 50 million Americans). Additionally, physicians interesting in offering minimally invasive or surgical treatment for migraine headaches should focus on mitigating patient fears regarding clinical outcomes and cost of care.

Current Approach to Undifferentiated Headache Management in the Emergency Department

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To discuss pharmacological interventions in the emergency department (ED) setting for the management of acute primary headache.

RECENT FINDINGS

Acute headache treatment in the ED has seen an expansion in terms of possible pharmacological interventions in recent years. After a thorough evaluation ruling out dangerous causes of headache, providers should take the patient's history, comorbidities, and prior therapy into consideration. Antidopaminergics have an established role in the management of acute, severe, headache with manageable side-effect profiles. However, recent studies suggest anesthetic and anti-epileptic drugs may play roles in headache treatment in the ED. Current literature also suggest steroids as a promising tool for emergency department clinicians combating the readmission of patients with recurrent headaches. Emergency medicine providers must be cognizant of these traditional and emerging therapies in order to optimize the care of headache patients.