Abstract

Vascular surgery for chronic migraine

Author(s): Elliot Shevel

Background: The superficial branches of the external carotid artery have been shown to be the origin of headache pain in some individuals. Surgical ligation of the temporal artery was first described by Al Zahrawi. Since then, excellent results have been achieved surgically in those patients in whom the superficial vessels have been positively identified as the source of the headache pain.

Aim: To determine the improvement in quality of life in patients suffering from chronic daily headache (CDH) following cauterization of superficial scalp vessels.

Patients & methods: In total, 65 patients with CDH, in whom the superficial scalp vessels were positively identified as the source of pain, underwent surgical cauterization of the relevant vessels.

Results: The quality of life of CDH sufferers in whom the pain was shown to originate in the superficial scalp vessels was significantly improved following surgical cauterization of the relevant vessels.

Conclusion: Surgical cauterization of superficial scalp vessels can be a valuable treatment modality in selected patients with CDH.