Reducing opioid use after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: the role of MMA infusion

Headache affects up to 90% of patients following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), often requiring high-dose opioids that can complicate neurological monitoring. 

In this episode, JNIS Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Michael Chen, is joined by Professor Peter Kan¹ to discuss a prospective pilot study investigating a novel dural therapy: the infusion of lidocaine (with or without dexamethasone) via the middle meningeal artery (MMA) during aneurysm embolisation. 

They explore the safety of this targeted approach, its impact on Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, and its potential as an opioid-sparing strategy in the neuro-ICU.

Link to the discussed paper: "Middle meningeal artery infusion for headaches after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a pilot study".

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(1) Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas, USA