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RecruitingNCT06621329Updated Aug 18, 2026

Transnasal Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Treatment of Acute Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Associated Headache

A Phase 2/3 interventional study of Transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block in SAH (Subarachnoid Hemorrhage) and Headache, sponsored by University of California, Davis. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 100 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-18.

Sponsored by University of California, Davis · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Oct 2024; still recruiting 2 years later.
Phase
Phase 2/3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 100 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The study titled \"Transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block for treatment of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage associated headache\" is a randomized controlled pilot study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block in addition to standard pain medication for reducing headache severity in patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The study also examines whether this intervention can reduce opioid requirements during hospitalization and upon discharge.

Read the detailed description

The study is designed to test the hypothesis that the addition of a transnasal SPG block to standard pain medication is more effective than medication alone in reducing headache associated with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. It involves 40 participants who meet specific inclusion criteria, such as being over 18 years old, having a secured aneurysm, and the ability to verbalize pain scores. Those with conditions like recent nasal or facial trauma, allergies to specific anesthetics, or pregnancy are excluded.

Participants are randomized into two groups: one receiving the standard care medication for headache and the other receiving both the standard care and a transnasal SPG block. The SPG block is administered using a needleless device called the Tx360, which allows for the medication to be instilled directly to the the sphenopalatine ganglion via the nasal passageways.

Data on pain scores and opioid usage are collected and analyzed using statistical methods to assess the effectiveness of the SPG block. The study also includes safety monitoring to track any adverse effects from the intervention. The entire study spans approximately 24 months, with individual participation lasting up to four weeks.

02

Conditions studied

  • SAH (Subarachnoid Hemorrhage)
  • Headache

Keywords

  • aSAH
  • peripheral nerve block
  • sphenopalatine ganglion
  • subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • headache
03

In context

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

510 studies on the registry are indexed under Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; 128 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 57 across 264 interventional studies indexed under Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Browse Subarachnoid Hemorrhage studies →

Lead sponsor

University of California, Davis is the lead sponsor of 809 studies on the registry; 142 are open to participants now.

Of its 67 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 43 (64%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 100 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Acute subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • Age greater than 18 years
  • Secured aneurysm
  • Patient can verbalize pain score to clinician, nurse, medical translator, or surrogate decision
  • maker
  • Patient or surrogate decision maker is available to consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Less than 18 years old
  • Unsecured aneurysm
  • Pregnant or lactating
  • Prisoner
  • Unable to verbalize pain score to clinician, nurse, medical translator, or surrogate decision maker
  • Nasal or facial trauma or surgery within the last three months
  • Allergy to lidocaine, bupivacaine, or dexamethasone
  • Patient is unable to consent and no available surrogate decision maker
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2 / Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
40 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • No intervention
    Standard of Care Medications for Headache

    Control arm participants will receive standard of care medications, as defined in a headache protocol, to treat subarachnoid associated headache.

  • Experimental
    Transnasal SPG Block and Standard of Care Medications

    Intervention arm participants will receive standard of care medications, as defined in a headache protocol, with the addition of transnasal SPG blocks when a predefined threshold is met per the study protocol.

    Combination Product: Transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block

Interventions

  • Combination productTransnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block

    Transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion blocks will be performed using the Tx360 device. Medications used during the procedure include 0.75% bupivacaine with or without 1 mg of preservative free dexamethasone.

    Also known as: SPG block, peripheral nerve block

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Numerical pain rating scale

    Pain scores will be obtained at regular intervals to compare pain control between the two arms. Pain scores will be collected multiple times throughout each ICU day, up to ICU day 14.

    Time frame: From enrollment until ICU discharge, up to 14 days

Secondary outcomes

  1. Morphine milligram equivalents (MME)

    Total Morphine milligram equivalents per ICU day will be collected for up to 14 days. Total morphine milligram equivalents will also be collected on the day of hospital discharge. Total morphine milligram equivalents for ICU course and total morphine milligram equivalents on day of discharge will be compared between the two arms.

    Time frame: From enrollment to hospital discharge, up to 14 days

Other outcomes

  1. Vasospasm

    Incidence of vasospasm during ICU course will be collected for both arms.

    Time frame: From enrollment to ICU discharge, up to 14 days

  2. Incidence of adverse events related to SPG block procedure

    Adverse reactions or events related to the SPG block procedure will be tracked and documented.

    Time frame: From enrollment to hospital discharge, up to 14 days

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • UC Davis Medical Center
    Sacramento, California 95817, United States
    Recruiting
    • Christine Picinich, AGACNP-BC, MS · Contactcpicinich@ucdavis.edu · 7075368452
    • Christine Picinich · Contact
    • Christine Picinich, AGACNP-BC, MS · Principal investigator
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 18, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06621329
Collaborators
Agnes Marshall Walker Foundation
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Oct 1, 2024
Start date
Oct 17, 2024
Primary completion
Jul 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Oct 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 18, 2026

Study contacts

Janice Wang-Polagruto, PhD, CCRP
Contact
jfwang@ucdavis.edu
916-551-3244
Ryan Martin, MD
Contact
rymartin@ucdavis.edu
916-734-4300
Christine Picinich, MS, AGACNP-BC, CCRN
principal investigator · University of California, Davis

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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