Effectiveness of Paranasal Air Suction on Acute Migraine Using Portable Air Sucker – A Randomized, Double Blind Study

Background Migraine is a primary headache disorder and is the most common disabling primary headache disorder that occurs in children and adolescents. A recent study showed that paranasal air suction can provide relief to migraine headache. However, in order to get the maximum benefit out of it, an easy to use effective air sucker should be available. Aiming to fulfil the above requirement, a randomized, double blind control clinical trial was conducted to investigate the efficacy of a recently developed low–pressure portable air sucker. Methods Eighty-six Sri Lankan school children of age 16–19 years with migraine were used for the study. They were randomly allocated into two groups, and one group was subjected to six intermittent ten-second paranasal air suctions using the portable air sucker for 120 seconds. The other group was subjected to placebo air suction (no paranasal air suction). The effect of suction was the key concern but effect of side of headache, type of headache, and gender were also studied with respect to number of response variables. The key response studied was severity of headache. In addition, left and right supraorbital tenderness, photophobia, phonophobia, numbness over the face and scalp, nausea and generalized tiredness/weakness of the body were studied. The measurements on all those variables were made before and after suction, and the statistical analysis was performed based on before and after differences. As a follow–up, patients were monitored for 24-hour period. Results There was a significant reduction in the severity of headache and other migraine symptoms in the treatment group compared to the control group two minutes after the suction. These symptoms did not recur within 24-hour period and there were no significant side effects recorded during the 24-hour observation period. Conclusion This pilot study showed that low–pressure portable air sucker is effective in paranasal air suction, and suction for 120 seconds using the sucker can provide an immediate relief which can last for more than 24-hour period without any side effects. Trail registration Clinical Trial Government Identification Number – 1548/2016.