Radiosurgical Decompression of Trigeminal Nerve and Its Correlation with Functional Outcome in Tumor-Related Trigeminal Neuralgia.

BACKGROUND: Target selection during Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in cases of tumor-related trigeminal neuralgia is always debatable. We analyzed the correlation of regression of tumor size and degree of release of the nerve with long-term pain control. METHODS: Between March 2012 and March 2023, 50 cases of tumor-related trigeminal neuralgia were treated with GKRS (tumor was targeted). Radiological findings after GKRS were categorized into 3 types: 1) tumor volume remained same or decreased, additional segment of nerve not seen; 2) tumor volume decreased, additional segment of trigeminal nerve seen, but tumor still adherent to the nerve; 3) tumor volume decreased, adjacent nerve seen completely separated from tumor. Pain score before and after GKRS (Barrow Neurological Institute I-III: good; Barrow Neurological Institute IV and V: poor) was correlated with these subgroups. RESULTS: At median follow-up of 46.5 months, 18 cases showed type 1 radiological response, 23 showed type 2 response, and 9 showed type 3 response. Good pain control was achieved in 10 (55.5%) patients with type 1, 15 (65.21%) with type 2, and 7 (77.8%) with type 3 responses. The outcome differences among these 3 groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.519). Five patients with type 3 radiological response were off medication, which was statistically better than type 1 and type 2 radiological responses, with 3 patients (P = 0.012) and 2 patients (P = 0.002), respectively, still receiving medication. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor volume reduction after GKRS may be associated with good pain control in tumor-related trigeminal neuralgia. Further, this allows visualization of additional segment of nerve that can be targeted in a second session for treating recurrent or failed cases.

Knowledge, attitude and practices toward pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reactions in postgraduate students of Tertiary Care Hospital in Gujarat.

Being key health care professional, physicians, pharmacist and nurses have immense responsibility in reporting adverse drug reaction (ADR). Therefore, the study objective was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) toward pharmacovigilance and ADRs of postgraduate students of our institute. A cross-sectional questionnaires based study was carried out in postgraduate students of the clinical department at tertiary care hospital attached with Govt. Medical College, Vadodara, Gujarat (India). A total of 22 questionnaires about KAP toward ADRs and pharmacovigilance were developed and peer viewed of all questionnaires by expert faculties from our institute. We were contacted directly to postgraduate students of respective clinical department; questionnaires were distributed and taken back after 30 min. The filled KAP questionnaires were analyzed in question wise and their percentage value was calculated by using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Postgraduate residents (n = 101) from different clinical departments were enrolled in the study. Average 34.83% correct and 64.08% incorrect knowledge about ADRs and pharmacovigilance and an average 90.76% students were agreed to reporting ADRs is necessary, mandatory and increased patient's safety. Only 7.92% of postgraduate doctors were reported ADR at institute or ADR reporting center. We concluded that postgraduate students have a better attitude toward reporting ADRs, but have lack of knowledge and poor practices of ADRs. The majority of postgraduate students were felt ADR reporting and monitoring is very important, but few had ever reported ADRs because of lack of sensitization and knowledge of pharmacovigilance and ADR.