Headache Blocks in the ED- Do We Need the IV?

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM PT

Location: Grand Crescent - 4th Floor

Workshop Lead Faculty(s)

Katherine Vlasica, DO (she/her/hers)

Acute Pain Management Fellowship Director, Medical Director of EM Pain Management
St Joseph's Health
Paterson, New Jersey

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Workshop Facilitator(s)

Nicole A. Yuzuk, xxxx (she/her/hers)

xxx
xxx
paterson, New Jersey

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Kimberly Baldino, MD FACEP FAEMS (she/her/hers)

EMS Medical Director & Core Faculty, Emergency Medicine Residency
St. Joseph's University Medical Center
Wayne, New Jersey

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Jessica Carlo, DO

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Kayla Stammer, MD

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Disclosure(s):

Katherine Vlasica, DO: No financial relationships to disclose

Nicole A. Yuzuk, xxxx: No financial relationships to disclose

Kimberly Baldino, MD FACEP FAEMS: No financial relationships to disclose

Jessica Carlo, DO: No financial relationships to disclose

Kayla Stammer, MD: No financial relationships to disclose

This lecture will review targeted nerve blocks for headache management in the emergency department, with a focus on sphenopalatine ganglion block, greater occipital nerve block, and low paraspinous cervical injection. We will discuss patient selection, relevant anatomy, indications, contraindications, and technique. Emphasis will be placed on practical application for migraine, cluster headache, and cervicogenic headache presentations, offering opioid-sparing and sedation-avoiding strategies for acute pain control.

Techniques Covered:
Sphenopalatine ganglion block (cotton-tip applicator or catheter approach)
Greater occipital nerve block (landmark-guided injection)
Low cervical paraspinous injection (C5–6 paraspinous technique)

Learning Objectives:

Identify appropriate headache types and patient presentations for which targeted nerve blocks are effective in the emergency department.
Demonstrate understanding of relevant anatomy, indications, and contraindications for sphenopalatine ganglion, greater occipital, and low cervical paraspinous blocks.
Apply practical techniques to perform these blocks safely, providing rapid, opioid-sparing headache relief in the ED.