Efficacy of destruction of dorsal root ganglia with local doxorubicin Injection under the guidance of CT for postherpetic neuralgia involving thoracic back region / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of destruction of dorsal root ganglia with local doxorubicin injection guided by CT for postherpetic neuralgia involving thoracic back region. Methods One hundred and fifty patients suffering from postherpetic neuralgia in thoracic back region were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 50 each) group A oral medicine; B and C groups undergoing local injection under the guidance of C-arm and CT respectively + oral medicine. Three spinal segments severely affected by herpes virus were chosen for paravertebral puncture. 1% lidocaine 1 ml was injected at each segment as test dose. Fifteen minutes later doxorubicin 3.3 mg and betamethasone compound 4.7 mg were injected at each segment if no side-effect occurred. All 3 groups were given oral medicine according to the intensity of pain after local injection. The number of patients who exited from the study because of the side effects of oral medicine was recorded. VAS, sleep interference score (SIS) and a short form of McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) were used to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment the day before (baseline), 24 h, 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months after local injection. The dosage of oxycodone extended-release tablets and gabapentin was recorded, and also the incidence of pneumothorax within 12 h after local injection. Results The exit rate, VAS, SIS and SF-MPQ scores, dosage of oxycodone extended-release tablet and gabapentin were significantly lower in B and C groups than in group A, but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. The incidence of pneumothorax was 10% in group B but no pneumothorax developed in group C.Conclusion Destruction of dorsal root ganglia with local doxorubicin injection guided by CT is more effective for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.