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Sphenopalatine Block in Headache in Patients With Non-traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Sphenopalatine Block in Headache in Patients With Non-traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) After Training of Neurosurgical Intensive Care Nurses.

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06735261
Acronym
SATURN
Enrollment
70
Registered
2024-12-16
Start date
2025-04-01
Completion date
2027-12-31
Last updated
2025-03-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Adult Patients

Keywords

pain, adulte, intensive care, subarachnoid hemorrhage, securing aneurysm, lidocaine

Brief summary

Non-traumatic SAH, linked in 85% of cases to the rupture of an intracranial aneurysm, is a serious stroke affecting young people. Half of all survivors suffer cognitive impairment. The presentation is that of a sudden-onset, isolated headache. This population is exposed to headache during hospitalization, which lasts an average of 13 days. This length of hospitalization is due to the fact that these patients must be monitored during the potential vasospasm period that occurs between days 4 and 14 after SAH. The pain associated with SAH is a source of discomfort and increased morphine consumption during the ICU stay, particularly during the first 10 days. Current recommendations call for conventional pain management with a combination of tier 1, 2 and/or 3 analgesics. For headache control, opioids are widely prescribed, sometimes in high doses, with adverse effects, despite efforts to reduce their use. Maximum headache pain scores remain high, indicating inadequate pain management. This highlights the urgent need to study alternative opioid-sparing and analgesia strategies for patients with SAH.

Detailed description

Sphenopalatine block is already used for certain types of facial and cranial pain, and could help save morphine consumption during hospitalization. The sphenopalatine ganglion is a crossroads for parasympathetic, sympathetic and sensory pathways. Recently studied in post-puncture dural breaches with promising results, sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGN) may appear as an interesting alternative therapy in the treatment of SAH headaches. Other advantages of this block are its simplicity, efficacy and the absence of any noticeable adverse effects at the time it is performed. What's more, it is already used routinely in our department, with rapid and effective action. The hypothesis of the trial would be to reduce morphine consumption by at least 50% for patients benefiting from BGSP, for better neurological monitoring and optimal overall pain management in SAH.

Interventions

A hollow-stem swab soaked in viscous Xylocaine is inserted into the patient's nasal cavity (one swab per nostril) until it stops. 1.5ml Lidocaine 20% (20mg/ml) is injected into each swab using a 5ml syringe and a pink trocar. Both swabs are left in place for 10 min.

Sponsors

University Hospital, Grenoble
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Prospective, single-center, randomized, open-label study,

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* ≥ 18 years * Non-traumatic SAH with or without aneurysm on brain imaging * WFNS score 1 and 2 * Patient awake and extubated after radiological procedure * Patient in pain (EN \> 3/10) despite usual level 1 analgesics (Paracetamol + Acupan) * Affiliated with or benefiting from a social security scheme

Exclusion criteria

* Contraindication to sphenopalatine ganglion block (deviated nasal septum, repeated epistaxis, allergy to Lidocaine) * Patient unable to assess pain by EN * Persons covered by Articles L1121-5 to L1121-8 of the CSP and Articles 31 to 35 of Regulation 536/2014. * Participation in other interventional research * Patient's refusal to participate * Arteriography more than 48 hours old * Inaugural headache lasting more than 48 hours * Presence of an unsecured vascular malformation at high risk of rupture

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Demonstrate a 50% change in morphine consumption with sphenopalatine ganglion block during the first 72 hours after cerebral arteriographyduring 72 hoursTotal morphine consumption in mg in the first 72 hours after cerebral arteriography in the Intensive care (ICU)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Describe morphine consumption per day during the patient's hospitalization for the 2 groupsduring hospitalization or 10 daysMorphine consumption in mg per day during hospitalization.
Describe the complications associated with sphenopalatine ganglion block.during 7 daysComplications of the sphenopalatine ganglion block technique: incidence of soft palate anesthesia (false liquid routes at H+2), epistaxis, vasovagal reactions, transient hearing loss
Evaluate the feasibility of the (BGSP) sphenopalatine ganglion block act performed by Idesduring 7 daysNumber of sphenopalatine ganglion block (BGSP) failures
Demonstrate a significant 3-point change in pain on EN (Simple Numerical Scale)averaged over 7 days after arteriographyduring 7 daysEN (Simple Numerical Scale) 7-day average
Demonstrate that the sphenopalatine ganglion block strategy changes patient satisfaction at Day 28at 28 daysQuestionnaire on overall satisfaction with pain management
Evaluation of nursing practices on the BGSP techniqueup to 28 daysSatisfaction questionnaire for nurses
Demonstrate that the sphenopalatine ganglion block strategy changes headaches at 28 days.at 28 daysEN (Simple Numerical Scale) at Day 28, consumption of stage 3 analgesics or neuropathic

Contacts

Primary ContactFELIX FP PELEN, Anesthesiologist
pfpelen@chu-grenoble.fr04 76 76 67 29
Backup ContactAngélina AP POLLET, RESEARCH NURSE
apollet@chu-grenoble.fr07476766729

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026