• Yuki Kojima, Songi Okamoto, and Kazuya Hirabayashi.
• Department of Anaesthesiology, Asahi General Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
• Pain Med. 2024 Mar 1; 25 (3): 169172169-172.

ObjectiveGlossopharyngeal nerve block is a useful interventional technique for pain management of the head and neck. It is performed with landmark techniques or ultrasound guidance. We propose a novel ultrasound-guided glossopharyngeal nerve block technique.MethodsThis new approach was performed in 3 patients in their twenties and thirties. A needle was inserted deeply under the stylohyoid muscle through the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Subsequently, an ultrasound-guided nerve block was performed with 1 mL of 1% xylocaine. The performance of our technique was evaluated with 2 tests: a cold sensitivity test and a gag reflex test.ResultsThe effect of the nerve block was observed in the posterior third of the tongue on both sides, the tonsils, and the pharyngeal region. The effect lasted for approximately 1.5 hour. Motor efferent block was not observed.ConclusionsWe designated the technique as ultrasound-guided selective glossopharyngeal nerve block: posterior mandibular ramus approach. No complications occurred during the bilateral application. This novel approach can be performed at a very shallow position, compared with conventional methods. There is no damage to tissues other than the muscles, which reduces postoperative complications and patient distress. Although our technique requires further safety assessments and technical refinements, it could represent a simpler alternative to conventional methods in daily clinical practice.© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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