Continuous neuropathic pain secondary to endoscopic procedures: report of two cases and review of the literature

Neuropathic pain encompasses a spectrum of conditions that can arise from a lesion or dysfunction of the central or the peripheral nervous system, and it may develop at variable intervals after nerve injury or inflammation. Nerve injuries arising from surgical procedures commonly occur secondary to the surgical trauma, and in rare instances they are a complication of intubation during general anesthesia or endoscopic procedures. A series of 2 cases of bilateral glossopharyngeal neuropathic pain subsequent to endoscopic procedures is presented with a review of the literature concerning the mechanisms of development of neuropathic pain after these procedures. The purpose of these case reports is to make dentists aware of the occurrence, the mechanisms of nerve injuries, and the treatment of neuropathic pain after endoscopic procedures. In the first case, the patient had relief of pain with a combination therapy of clonazepam 1.0 mg in divided doses twice daily and gabapentin 300 mg in divided doses 3 times daily. In the second case, the patient had significant relief of pain with a monotherapy of gabapentin 1200 mg in divided doses 3 times daily.