Compression of Gasserian Ganglion and Trigeminal Root with Balloon in the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia: Prospective Study of 40 Patients

**Address: Avenida Rodrigues Alves 875, 59020-100 Natal RN , Brasil. Forty patients presenting trigeminal neuralgia underwent Gasserian ganglion and trigeminal roots compression with Fogarty’s balloon are presented. The natural history, the clinical presentation and the demographic aspects of the patients were similar to that described in the literature. Fifty procedures were performed; 30 patients underwent one compression and nine, two. In one patient the procedure was bilateral. The follow-up ranged from six to 48 months. One compression was effective in 37 (90.26%) hemifaces and the second procedure alleviated pain in nine (100%) patients. There were only minor immediate and late complication rates. Recurrence of pain occurred in six (15%) patients during the 48 months follow-up period; four, during the first 24 months; one, at the 36th month, and the remainder at the 42nd month. Two (5%) patients did not present relief of pain and underwent a second procedure during the first 24 hours after the first one and had total pain relief. Two (5%) other patients presented partial pain relief; one did not agree with the second procedure and the other was operated six months after the first surgery. COMPRESSION OF GASSERIAN GANGLION AND TRIGEMINAL ROOT WITH BALLOON IN THE TREATMENT OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA: PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 40 PATIENTS (ABSTRACT)*. THESIS. SÃO PAULO, 2000.