Success Cases

A 43-year-old male patient presented with a history of intermittent, severe pain in the right forehead, accompanied by nasal congestion and a runny nose, spanning eight years. Initially, he experienced episodes approximately once a year. However, over the past year, the frequency of episodes has increased sharply to 4–5 times a year. Each episode typically lasts two weeks, occurs mainly during the day, and often follows a precise temporal pattern—for example, suddenly beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The pain is paroxysmal, intense as if being cut by a knife, and lasts for several hours. During an episode, the patient becomes extremely agitated and has even been known to bang his head against the wall. Although he has sought treatment at numerous hospitals across the country, his symptoms have never been effectively relieved.

Diagnosis and Treatment: Following a comprehensive and systematic evaluation, he was diagnosed with chronic cluster headache at the Department of Neurosurgery at Peking University International Hospital. Under precise image guidance, he underwent pulsed… radiofrequency ablation combined with sphenopalatine ganglion block. This targeted treatment was performed under local anesthesia via the pterygopalatine fossa approach.

Results: Postoperatively, the patient experienced significant pain relief. The excruciating pain has not recurred, and his quality of life has been fully restored.

For anyone suffering from severe headaches, this minimally invasive approach offers a new treatment option. It holds the promise of “turning off the headache switch” and giving patients a new lease on life.

Department Profile

The Department of Neurosurgery at Peking University International Hospital was established in October 2015 through a collaboration between Peking University International Hospital and Beijing Tiantan Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University. It has since developed into a major neurosurgical center in northern Beijing. From 2015 to 2022, under the leadership of Professor Zhao Yuanli’s team at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, the department consistently upheld the principles of “minimally invasive surgery” and “precision medicine,” adhering to a patient-centered care model,

evolving into a leading center that integrates clinical care, teaching, and research. In 2021, the department was officially recognized by the National Health Commission as a National Center for Neurointerventional Capacity Building and Continuing Education and was included in the neurosurgery rankings of hospitals affiliated with Fudan University.

Currently, the department operates two inpatient buildings with a total of 69 beds. It primarily treats patients with cerebrovascular diseases, intracranial and spinal cord tumors, spinal cord disorders, traumatic brain injury, congenital neural malformations, hydrocephalus, and functional neurosurgical conditions (including epilepsy, impaired consciousness, trigeminal neuralgia, and hemifacial spasm).

The department is equipped with state-of-the-art neurosurgical technology, including hybrid operating rooms, high-field intraoperative MRI hybrid operating rooms, neuro-navigation systems, stereotactic biopsy equipment, neuroendoscopes, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, intraoperative ultrasound, and neurosurgical robots.

The department’s nursing practices adhere to international standards and incorporate the principles of early rehabilitation. Through strategies such as shortening the preoperative fasting period, encouraging early postoperative mobility, and localized skin preparation, the department minimizes surgical stress, prevents complications, and accelerates the recovery of organ function, ultimately promoting patients’ physical and mental rehabilitation.