Esketamine Combined With PRF of DRG for Acute/Subacute Zoster-associated Pain

This study aims to determine whether the addition of esketamine to PRF - standardized drug treatment can improve 1 - month pain control and safety profiles in acute/subacute ZAP patients. The findings may help optimize current treatment strategies for refractory ZAP patients.

Inclusion criteria

• Ages more than 18 years;
• Patients with onset of herpes zoster (HZ) rash less than 90 days;
• HZ affected the spinal nerves (cervical/thoracic/lumbar nerve);
• Having an average pain score of at least 4 on a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS, 0 = no pain, 10= worst possible pain)；
• Planned to perform CT-guided PRF treatment of the dorsal root ganglion(DRG).

Exclusion criteria

• Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome;
• Those who receive other more invasive treatments, such as radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) of DRG.
• A history of systemic immune diseases, organ transplantation, or cancers;
• A history of severe cardiopulmonary, hepatic, renal dysfunction or coagulation function disorder;
• A history of schizophrenia, epilepsy, or myasthenia gravis, delirium;
• Comorbid hyperthyroidism or phaeochromocytoma;
• Recent history of drug abuse;
• Having contraindications to esketamine;
• Communication difficulties.
• Women who are preparing for pregnancy, in the pregnancy or lactation period.