Is transoral sphenopalatine ganglion blockade more effective on postoperative pain than endoscopic sphenopalatine ganglion blockade?

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to examine and compare the effects of endoscopic SPGB and transoral SPGB on postoperative pain control and patient satisfaction in patients undergoing septoplasty.

Methods: Participants were randomly divided into three groups, no blockade (n:20), endoscopic SPGB (n:20), and transoral SPGB (n:20). Those who had no blockage were included in the control group. Demographic data of patients, such as age and sex, VAS (visual analogue scale) and postoperative pain scores (PPS) [determined at arrival in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and after 2, 6, 12, and 24 h], general analgesic use (24 and 168 h after surgery) and postoperative Quality of Recovery (QoR-15) values were recorded and compare them.

Results: The PPS PACU of 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24-h values of the transoral group were lower than the endoscopic and control groups (p < 0.001).The values of 24 h and 168 h of analgesic use in the transoral group were lower than in the control and endoscopic groups (p < 0.001).The average recovery QoR-15 scores at 12 h and 24 h differed according to the groups (p < 0.001) and the highest values were in the transoral group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Transoral SPGB is more effective in postoperative pain control than endoscopic SPGB, it decreases the use of postoperative analgesics and improves postoperative recovery scores.