Thursday, April 8, 2010

Management Of Trigeminal Neuralgia Radiofrequency Technique At Aligarh Muslim University

ALIGARH April 7: The Department of Anaesthesiology, J.N. Medical College Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University organized a live workshop on the management of patients of trigeminal neuralgia with the latest radiofrequency technique. Two senior faculties and experts in the management of trigeminal neuralgia, Prof G. P. Dureja, Director, Delhi Pain Management Centre and Prof. H.H. Dash, Head of the Department of Neuroanaesthesiology, AIIMS, New Delhi demonstrated the different blocks of trigeminal nerve and its branches with the latest radiofrequency technique in Pain Clinic of the Department of Anaesthesiolgy, J.N. Medical College Hospital.

Trigeminal neuralgia is usually a unilateral current like sensation affecting the face of human being. The treatment options available for treating the pain of trigeminal neuralgia are neuropathic drugs like Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Pregabalin, Baclofen etc. However these drugs provide pain relief for short duration only along with some serious side effects. Nerve blocks with neurolytic agents like phenol and alcohol provide relief for few months to year. The radiofrequency ablation of trigeminal nerve and its branches have become popular due to its long lasting pain relief with minimal side effects.

The workshop was attended by about 100 doctors from different specialties of J.N. Medical College Hospital and Sir Ziauddin Ahmed Dental College Hospital including private practitioners as well as delegates from outside Aligarh.

The Chairman of the Department of Anaesthesiology Prof S. Bano welcomed the invited faculties and the delegates. Coordinator of the workshop and consultant in Pain Clinic Dr. Hammad Usmani introduced the different procedures planned for the workshop. Dean, Faculty of Medicine Prof. S. Abrar Hasan expressed happiness over the organization of the event and presented memento to Prof H. H. Dash. Principal and Chief Medical Superintendent, JNMC, Prof. Ashraf Malik congratulated the department for organizing the live workshop and presented memento to Prof. G. P. Dureja. Prof. G. P. Dureja informed the delegates that this workshop is first of its kind in India.

About eight patients suffering from various forms of trigeminal neuralgia received free of cost treatment in the workshop. The usual cost of radiofrequency treatment for trigeminal neuralgia in Delhi varies from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 10,000. These patients will be followed up in the Pain Clinic of J.N. Medical College Hospital for further counseling. The active guidance of senior teachers of the department like Prof. M. M. H. Siddiqi, Dr. S. Haleem, Dr. A. Quadir, Dr. S. N. Jamil, Dr. Q. E. Ali and the hard work of Dr. Hussain Amir, Dr. Abu Nadeem, Dr. Farah, Dr. Obaid, Dr. Yasir, Dr. Shahna, Dr. Aftab, Dr. Kamran, Dr. Suhail, Dr. Asad and members of the Pain Clinic team including Dr. Muzaffar, Dr. Arshad, Dr. Nazia and sister Shaista made the event successful.