Trigeminal glycerol chemoneurolysis: nursing implications

Patients who have undergone unsuccessful medical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia may require some form of neurosurgical intervention. Injecting glycerol into the trigeminal cistern via the anterior percutaneous route has gained increasing acceptance as a method of relieving the excruciating paroxysmal pain of trigeminal neuralgia. The purpose of this article is to provide neuroscience nurses with an understanding of the rationale for selection of this particular procedure over other methods. The technique and potential complications will be briefly described. Nursing implications for the perioperative period will be discussed.