[Electrical dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) for the treatment of refractory postherpetic neuralgia]. / Elektricheskaya stimulyatsiya gangliya zadnikh koreshkov spinnogo mozga (DRGS) dlya lecheniya refrakternoi postgerpeticheskoi nevralgii.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a rare complication of herpes zoster characterized by prolonged and excruciating pain. Traditional treatments for PHN, such as analgesics, anticonvulsants and antidepressants, do not always bring the desired result. One promising alternative that is attracting the attention of the scientific community is dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS). This method focuses on targeted and precise targeting of the source of pain, providing a new level of effectiveness in the treatment of PHN. OBJECTIVE: A retrospective analysis of the technique and results of implantation of a permanent device for stimulating the spinal ganglia in patients with refractory PHN at the Burdenko Neurosurgical Center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 7 patients (5 men, 2 women) with refractory PHN in the period from 2018 to 2020. The age of the patients ranged from 57 to 84 years (average age 74±8.4). All patients were implanted with Boston systems (Precision or Spectra versions). Stimulation parameters: pulse width - 120-210 µs, frequency - 30-130 Hz, amplitude at the lower limit of the appearance of paresthesia with the possibility of increasing with increased pain up to 5 mA. The position of the electrode depended on the location of the pain. All systems were implanted under X-ray guidance. RESULTS: The duration of follow-up observation was more than 2.5 years. The average pain intensity one year after treatment was 3.42±2.45 points on the visual analogue scale (VAS) (a 62.3% decrease in intensity compared to baseline). In 3 (42.8%) patients, the result was characterized by us as «excellent¼ (intensity according to VAS decreased by 75% or more), in 1 (14.2%) - as «good¼ (intensity according to VAS decreased by 50-74%), in 1 (14.2%) - as «moderate¼ (VAS intensity decreased by 25-49% and in 2 (28.5%) as «unsatisfactory¼ (VAS intensity decreased by less than 25%, or postoperative complications occurred). CONCLUSION: Given the complicated nature of PHN, the use of dorsal ganglion stimulation appears to be a promising and innovative treatment approach. Further research is needed to introduce this technique into clinical practice for the treatment of patients suffering from PHN.

[Sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation in the treatment of chronic refractory cluster headache. A preliminary multicenter study in Russia]. / Stimulyatsiya krylonebnogo gangliya v lechenii khronicheskoi klasternoi golovnoi boli. Rezul'taty pervogo mul'titsentrovogo opyta v Rossii.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation in treatment of chronic headache. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical histories of patients who underwent sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation in 4 clinical centers have been analyzed. The analysis included the type of pain and its characteristics, methods of surgery, CT, MRI, radiography before and after surgery. The follow-up data of patients with implanted pulse generators was collected in an outpatient clinic or by telephone review. RESULTS: The study included 15 patients with chronic refractory headache, including 14 with cluster headache and one female patient with features of trigeminal autonomic cephalgia without a clear definition of the type of pain. Trial stimulation was performed in 10 patients to determine analgesic effect. Among them stimulation was favorable in 7 cases, and 6 of them underwent pulse generator implantation. In total, 11 (73%) patients underwent implantation with a follow-up from 1 to 60 months. Among them only 6 (54%) patients use stimulation, the remaining 5 (46%) cases had device-related complications (migration, infection of system). Cluster headache has a significant improvement in long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation may have high potential in the treatment of chronic drug-resistant cluster headache. The complication rate demonstrates that operative technique should be improved.

[Brainstem arachnoid cyst: case report and review]. / Arakhnoidal'naya kista stvola mozga: opisanie klinicheskogo sluchaya i obzor literatury.

There are no literature data on brainstem arachnoid cysts in humans. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical case of brainstem (pontomesencephalic) arachnoid cyst and to analyze classification, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis and treatment of this pathology considering literature data and own experience. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 29-year-old patient with pontomesencephalic arachnoid cyst is reported. The disease manifested in childhood with a headache aggravated by bending and pushing. Later, syncope, vegetative-visceral paroxysms, mild oculomotor disturbances, transient paresthesia and numbness of the left half of the face occurred. Headaches became significantly more severe and resulted nausea and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a two-chambered arachnoid cyst. A smaller chamber was localized in interpeduncular cistern, a larger one - in brainstem. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Differential diagnosis included cystic glioma and Virchow-Robin space enlargement. Fenestration of the cyst wall within interpeduncular cistern was performed via right-sided pterional approach. The diagnosis was verified by histological examination. The follow-up period was 14 months. We observed postoperative cyst reduction confirmed by MR data and regression of all symptoms except for minimal signs of medial longitudinal fasciculus dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Correct surgical approach for brainstem arachnoid cyst complicated by progressive neurological deterioration is confirmed by postoperative regression of cyst and symptoms.