Korean J Pain.  2010 Sep;23(3):215-218. 10.3344/kjp.2010.23.3.215.

Severe Pain Attack Associated with Neurocardiogenic Syncope Induced by Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: Successful Treatment with Carbamazepine and a Permanent Pacemaker: A Case Report

• Kim SH
• Han KR
• Kim DW
• Lee JW
• Park KB
• Lee JY
• Kim C

• KMID: 1767889
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2010.23.3.215

Abstract

Glossopharyneal neuralgia (GPN) is generally considered to be a pain disease. However, it can be also be a life-threatening cardiac cause of syncope. Neuralgia in the throat and neck can trigger severe bradycardia up to the point of asystole, which can progress to cardiac syncope with or without seizures. A 65 year-old male patient diagnosed with glossopharyngeal neuralgia complained of severe paroxysmal pain in his right chin and ear followed by bradycardia, aystole and syncope. We report a case successfully treated with a permanent pacemaker and carbamazepine in a patient with GPN who had syncopal attacks preceded by paroxysms of pain.

Keyword

carbamazepine; glossopharyngeal neuralgia; permanent pacemaker; syncope

MeSH Terms

Bradycardia
Carbamazepine
Chin
Ear
Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases
Heart Arrest
Humans
Male
Neck
Neuralgia
Pharynx
Seizures
Syncope
Syncope, Vasovagal
Carbamazepine

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