Complications of head and neck procedures

Neurologic, vascular, and infectious complications may occur with any nerve block procedure; however, they may lead to devastating outcome in case of head and neck blocks. This report will review the specific complications related to head and neck nerve block procedures with special emphasis on gasserian ganglion, sphenopalatine ganglion, and upper cervical joints procedures. Advances in neuromodulation and its applications in the treatment of intractable headache and facial pain make it necessary to review the possible complications associated with those techniques.