A Randomized, Double-Dummy, Emergency Department-Based Study of Greater Occipital Nerve Block With Bupivacaine vs Intravenous Metoclopramide for Treatment of Migraine

Managing and Preventing Migraine in the Emergency Department: A Review

Migraine is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and acute migraine attacks are a common reason for patients to seek care in the emergency department (ED). There have been recent advancements in the care of patients with migraine, specifically emerging evidence for nerve blocks and new pharmacological classes of medications like gepants and ditans. This article serves as a comprehensive review of migraine in the ED, including diagnosis and management of acute complications of migraine (eg, status migrainosus, migrainous infarct, persistent aura without infarction, and aura-triggered seizure) and use of evidence-based migraine-specific treatments in the ED. It highlights the role of migraine preventive medications and provides a framework for emergency physicians to prescribe them to eligible patients. Finally, it evaluates the evidence for nerve blocks in the treatment of migraine and introduces the possible role of gepants and ditans in the care of patients with migraine in the ED.

The efficacy and safety of metoclopramide in relieving acute migraine attacks compared with other anti-migraine drugs: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Many drugs are prescribed in relieving acute migraine attacks, we aim to compare metoclopramide with other antimigraine drugs.

METHODS

We searched online databases like PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science till June 2022 for RCTs that compared metoclopramide alone with placebo or active drugs. The main outcomes were the mean change in headache score and complete headache relief. The secondary outcomes were the rescue medications need, side effects, nausea and recurrence rate. We qualitatively reviewed the outcomes. Then, we performed the network meta-analyses (NMAs) when it was possible. which were done by the Frequentist method using the MetaInsight online software.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies were included with a total of 1934 patients: 826 received metoclopramide, 302 received placebo, and 806 received other active drugs. Metoclopramide was effective in reducing headache outcomes even for 24 h. The intravenous route was the most chosen route in the included studies and showed significant positive results regarding headache outcomes; however, the best route whether intramuscular, intravenous, or suppository was not compared in the previous studies. Also, both 10 and 20 mg doses of metoclopramide were effective in improving headache outcomes; however, there was no direct comparison between both doses and the 10 mg dose was the most frequently used dosage. In NMA of headache change after 30 min or 1 h, metoclopramide effect came after granisetron, ketorolac, chlorpromazine, and Dexketoprofen trometamol. Only granisetron's effect was significantly higher than metoclopramide's effect which was only significantly higher than placebo and sumatriptan. In headache-free symptoms, only prochlorperazine was non-significantly higher than metoclopramide which was higher than other medications and showed significantly higher effects only with placebo. In rescue medication, metoclopramide's effect was only non-significantly lower than prochlorperazine and chlorpromazine while its effect was higher than other drugs and showed higher significant effects only than placebo and valproate. In the recurrence rate, studies showed no significant difference between metoclopramide and other drugs. Metoclopramide significantly decreased nausea more than the placebo. Regarding side effects, metoclopramide showed a lower incidence of mild side effects than pethidine and chlorpromazine and showed a higher incidence of mild side effects than placebo, dexamethasone, and ketorolac. The reported extrapyramidal symptoms with metoclopramide were dystonia or akathisia.

CONCLUSION

A dose of 10 mg IV Metoclopramide was effective in relieving migraine attacks with minimal side effects. Compared to other active drugs, it only showed a lower significant effect compared with granisetron regarding headache change while it showed significantly higher effects only with placebo in both rescue medication needs and headache-free symptoms and valproate in only rescue medication need. Also, it significantly decreased headache scores more than placebo and sumatriptan. However, more studies are needed to support our results.

CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain - United States, 2022

This guideline provides recommendations for clinicians providing pain care, including those prescribing opioids, for outpatients aged ≥18 years. It updates the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain - United States, 2016 (MMWR Recomm Rep 2016;65[No. RR-1]:1-49) and includes recommendations for managing acute (duration of <1 month), subacute (duration of 1-3 months), and chronic (duration of >3 months) pain. The recommendations do not apply to pain related to sickle cell disease or cancer or to patients receiving palliative or end-of-life care. The guideline addresses the following four areas: 1) determining whether or not to initiate opioids for pain, 2) selecting opioids and determining opioid dosages, 3) deciding duration of initial opioid prescription and conducting follow-up, and 4) assessing risk and addressing potential harms of opioid use. CDC developed the guideline using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Recommendations are based on systematic reviews of the scientific evidence and reflect considerations of benefits and harms, patient and clinician values and preferences, and resource allocation. CDC obtained input from the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (a federally chartered advisory committee), the public, and peer reviewers. CDC recommends that persons with pain receive appropriate pain treatment, with careful consideration of the benefits and risks of all treatment options in the context of the patient's circumstances. Recommendations should not be applied as inflexible standards of care across patient populations. This clinical practice guideline is intended to improve communication between clinicians and patients about the benefits and risks of pain treatments, including opioid therapy; improve the effectiveness and safety of pain treatment; mitigate pain; improve function and quality of life for patients with pain; and reduce risks associated with opioid pain therapy, including opioid use disorder, overdose, and death.

Non-opioid Intravenous Drugs for Pain Management in Patients Presenting with Acute Migraine Pain in the Emergency Department: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Context

Migraine is one of the most common causes of disability worldwide and the sixth cause of loss of life years due to disability. Migraine is reported mainly in young and middle-aged people, so it can cause a person to face many problems in doing daily tasks. The emergency department annually accepts 1.2 million patients with migraine. Therefore, timely diagnosis of the disease, knowledge of valuable drugs in an emergency, knowing how to use them, and finally, early treatment can play an essential and decisive role in improving patients' symptoms and reducing the disability caused by the disease. An essential and valuable drug category in the emergency department to manage pain is non-opioid intravenous (IV) drugs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate non-opioid IV drugs to manage pain in patients with acute migraines in the emergency department.

Method

This study conducted a comprehensive literature review to access the latest scientific studies and documents using keywords (acute migraine, non-opioid IV drugs, pain management) in reliable databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. We reviewed 87 articles, 53 of which were evaluated and compared.

Results

A review study considers intravenous acetaminophen as a suitable option for the first-line treatment of acute migraine in the emergency department if the patient does not tolerate aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Various studies have obtained positive effects of NSAIDs and dihydroergotamine (DHE) in treating acute migraine. Prescribing anti-dopaminergic drugs can effectively reduce associated symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Dexamethasone and magnesium sulfate are effective in preventing migraine and severe attacks. Intravenous sodium valproate is effective in moderate to severe migraine attacks or treatment-resistant migraines. In the emergency department, prescribing intravenous haloperidol, lidocaine, and propofol can help manage migraine and improve other associated symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting.

Conclusions

Non-opioid IV drugs are essential to manage pain and improve other migraine symptoms in the emergency setting. Knowing the above drugs and their optimal use has a decisive role in managing patients with acute migraine in the emergency department.

Regional Anesthesia in the Emergency Department: an Overview of Common Nerve Block Techniques and Recent Literature

Purpose of Review

This review seeks to discuss the use of RA in the ED including benefits of administration, types of RA by anatomic location, complications and management, teaching methods currently in practice, and future applications of RA in the ED.

Recent Findings

The early use of RA in pain management may reduce the transition of acute to chronic pain. Multiple plane blocks have emerged as feasible and efficacious for ED pain complaints and are now being safely utilized.

Summary

Adverse effects of opioids and their potential for abuse have necessitated the exploration of substitute therapies. Regional anesthesia (RA) is a safe and effective alternative to opioid treatment for pain in the emergency department (ED). RA can manage pain for a wide variety of injuries while avoiding the risks of opioid use and decreasing length of stay when compared to other forms of analgesia and anesthesia, without compromising patient satisfaction.

Impact of Greater Occipital Nerve Block on Photophobia Levels in Migraine Patients

BACKGROUND

To study the effect of greater occipital nerve (GON) block on migraine-associated photophobia levels. Photophobia is one of the most bothersome symptoms reported by migraine patients. Studies investigating the impact of migraine treatment on this symptom are scarce.

METHODS

This is an observational prospective case-control study. Patients with migraine and photophobia attending a Headache Clinic were recruited. Cases were defined as patients in whom GON block was performed, following usual clinical practice guidelines. All patients were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Migraine Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Utah Photophobia Symptom Impact Scale (UPSIS-12), and the Korean Photophobia Questionnaire (KUMC-8); both in the first visit (V1) and one week after (V2).

RESULTS

Forty-one patients were recruited, 28 (68.3%) cases and 13 (31.7%) controls. At V1, there were no significant differences in the median [p25-p75] score of UPSIS-12 in cases vs controls (32.0 [21.0-34.0] vs 30.5 [22.0-37.0], P = 0.497) or KUMC-8 (6.5 [5.5-7.0] vs 7.0 [6.0-8.0], P = 0.463). At V2, cases experimented a significant improvement in UPSIS-12 of -5.5 [-8.8 to -1.3] and in KUMC-8 of -0.5 [-2.0 to 0], whereas there were no significant changes in the control group. Migraine with aura patients presented higher UPSIS-12 score at V1 (33.5 [24.5-37.0] vs 26.0 [16.0-35.0]) and lesser improvement at V2 after GON block compared with migraine without aura patients (-4.0 [-6.0 to -1.0] vs -8.0 [-17.0 to -2.0]), although statistical significance was not achieved (P = 0.643 and P = 0.122, respectively). There was no significant variation in the remaining scales.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater occipital nerve block improves migraine-associated photophobia, measured with UPSIS-12 and KUMC-8. Patients without aura may exhibit a greater improvement. Physicians could consider GON block for management of photophobia in migraine patients.

Second-line interventions for migraine in the emergency department: A narrative review

OBJECTIVE

Millions of patients present to US emergency departments (ED) annually for the treatment of migraine. First-line treatments, including metoclopramide, prochlorperazine, and sumatriptan, fail to provide sufficient relief in up to one-third of treated patients. In this narrative review, we discuss the evidence supporting the use of injectable (intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous) medications for patients in the ED who fail to improve sufficiently after treatment with first-line medication.

METHODS

We used the American Headache Society's guideline, "Management of Adults with Acute Migraine in the Emergency Department: The American Headache Society Evidence Assessment of Parenteral Pharmacotherapies," published in 2016, to identify first-line medications for migraine. We then conducted a PubMed search to determine whether any evidence supported the use of these medications as second-line therapy and whether any evidence existed to support the use of injectable therapies not discussed in the guideline as second-line therapy.

RESULTS

We identified only scant high-quality randomized data of second-line therapy. Therefore, we based our recommendations on medications that have reliably demonstrated efficacy as first-line treatment of migraine. These medications include injectable non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen. Dihydroergotamine and valproic acid have some data supporting efficacy. More recently, greater occipital nerve blocks (GONBs) have been shown to be efficacious. With the exception of meperidine, opioids have been shown to be not efficacious. Most data published to date demonstrate no role for propofol and ketamine.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no evidence-based second-line treatments of migraine in the ED setting. For patients with migraine, who fail to improve after treatment with a first-line medication, it is reasonable to use an intravenous NSAID or intravenous acetaminophen. Alternatively, clinicians adept at performing a GONB may offer this treatment.

Effectiveness of Peripheral Nerve Blocks for the Treatment of Primary Headache Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Primary headache disorders are prevalent and account for 2% of all emergency department visits. Current treatment options are effective; however, time to pain relief is suboptimal. Alternatives such as peripheral nerve blocks have shown promising results. The objective of this systematic review is to examine the effectiveness of peripheral nerve blocks for timely pain relief.

METHODS

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science Core Collection, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and included randomized controlled trials comparing peripheral nerve blocks to placebo or active therapy. The primary outcome was pain within 120 minutes. Secondary outcomes were pain after 120 minutes, adverse events, need for rescue medications, and relapse of headache. Two reviewers screened and extracted data independently; mean differences (MDs) were calculated, and results were pooled using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Eleven studies met our eligibility criteria (n=860), of which 9 were included in the meta-analysis. Pain scores were significantly lower in patients treated with peripheral nerve blocks than with placebo at 15 minutes (MD: -1.17; 95% confidence interval: -1.82 to -0.51) and 30 minutes (MD: -0.99; 95% confidence interval: -1.66 to -0.32), and no serious adverse events were reported. Pain scores for peripheral nerve blocks versus active therapy and secondary outcomes were not pooled due to clinical heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

Our review shows peripheral nerve blocks are effective as a rapid treatment option when compared to placebo; however, we were unable to assess effectiveness against standard treatment. Emergency physicians should consider peripheral nerve blocks as an adjunct therapy for patients with primary headache disorders.

Comparison of greater occipital nerve and supra orbital nerve blocks methods in the treatment of acute migraine attack: A randomized double-blind controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

The main goal of this investigation is to compare the Greater Occipital Nerve (GON) and Supra Orbital Nerve (SON) block methods used in the treatment of migraine attacks in the ED with each other, in combination, and with a placebo.

METHODS

This study was planned as a single center, prospective, double-blind, randomized control study. The patients were divided into 4 groups: GON, SON, Combined, and Placebo. Groups were named according to the nerve areas that were blocked. Therefore1% lidocaine for nerve blockade and 0.9% NaCl for placebo effect was used. Along with the time of admission, baseline pain scale values, as well as recordings at 30 and 60 min in addition to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at the 120th min. and Likert-Type (LT) Verbal scale at the 120th min. were measured. The primary outcome of this study was a change in the VAS and LT values at the 0-120th minute after treatment RESULTS: In this study, 128 patients in 4 groups were included in the analysis. In the GON group, SON group, and Combined group, the change observed at the 120th minute scores compared to baseline VAS scores was higher than Placebo group [OR (95% CI) = -17.4 (-24.8, -9.9), 32.1 (23.8, 40.3), 49.5 (41.9, 57), respectively]. In inter-group comparison, it was found that the VAS and LT scores of the Combined group and the GON group improved at a higher rate than the SON group CONCLUSIONS: SON blockade, GON blockade, and a combination of these two blockades are effective treatment methods in acute migraine attack. Performing a GON or Combined blockade for migraine attack causes greater pain reduction than SON blockade.

Role of Greater Occipital Nerve Block in Headache Disorders: A Narrative Review

Background

The proximity of sensory neurons in the upper cervical spinal cord to the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) neurons and the convergence of sensory input to TNC neurons from both cervical and trigeminal fibers underscore the rationale of using greater occipital nerve block (GON-block) for acute and preventive treatment in various headache disorders.

Objective

The aim of this study was to critically review the existing literature regarding the safety and efficacy of GON-block in various headache disorders.

Methods

We searched the eligible studies in English by searching in PubMed till December 31, 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, open-label studies, case series, and case reports on the efficacy and the safety of GON-block for the treatment of headache disorders using the keywords "greater occipital nerve block", "headache" and "treatment". Studies using combination of GON-block and other peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) and C2/C3 blocks were excluded.

Results

Seventy-two eligible studies were reviewed. Based on RCTs and open-label studies, good evidence of the efficacy of GON-block was found for migraine, cluster headache (CH), post-dural puncture headache (PDPH), cervicogenic headache (CGH), and occipital neuralgia (ON). The analgesic effect of GON-block outlasted its anesthetic effect by days to weeks. Evidence for acute and short-term (transitional) treatment was more robust than for long-term prevention. GON-block was found to be safe and the treatment-emergent adverse effects (TEAEs) were generally mild and transient.

Conclusion

GON-block is a useful modality of treatment in various headache disorders because of many attractive features such as its early effect in reducing the severity of pain, sustained effect following a single injection, easy technique, minimum invasiveness, minimum TEAE, no drug-to-drug interactions, and negligible cost.

Clinic-based Procedures for Headache

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Headache disorders are common and disabling, and many therapies that are effective and safe are procedural.

RECENT FINDINGS

After pivotal clinical trials, onabotulinumtoxinA has become an established preventive therapy for chronic migraine; it is better tolerated than many other treatments and may be useful for other headache disorders. Peripheral nerve blocks, especially greater occipital nerve blocks, have amassed evidence from randomized trials in the acute and short-term preventive treatment of migraine and cluster headache. Trigger point injections and sphenopalatine ganglion blocks have recent trials suggesting efficacy and safety in properly selected patients. Medical education initiatives are needed to train neurologists in these procedures to help manage the large population of patients with headache disorders who need them.

SUMMARY

Evidence exists for the efficacy and safety of procedural therapies to be incorporated into neurology practice for the management of patients with migraine, cluster headache, and other headache disorders.