RESUMEN
Objective:To evaluate the effect of stellate ganglion block on nighttime sleep quality in the patients with primary sleep disorders.Methods:Sixty patients of both sexes with primary sleep disorders, of American Society of Anesthesiology physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, aged 18-64 yr, weighing 40-75 kg, were randomized to 2 groups ( n=30 each): control group (group C) and stellate ganglion block group (group S). In group S, 0.2% ropivacaine 5 ml was injected into the surface of the right longus colli muscle where the the stellate ganglion was located under ultrasound guidance once a day for 7 consecutive days starting from 1 h before bedtime.While the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C. Patients′ Subjective Sleep Quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire before treatment (T 0) and 1-7 days after treatment.The objective sleep quality was evaluated with polysomnography.A bispectral index(BIS)monitor and a cerebral and regional blood oxygen monitoring system were used to monitor the BIS value and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO 2) during sleep, which were recorded once every 30 min, and the 7-day average was calculated.The patients′ daytime advanced cognitive function was assessed for 3 consecutive days after the end of treatment (T 8-10), including the Continuous Attention Test and the Behavioral Test for Performing Defect Syndrome, and the 3-day average value was calculated.Venous blood samples were collected at T 0 and T 8 to measure the plasma noradrenaline, cortisol, and serotonin concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results:Compared with group C, the individual and total scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were significantly decreased, the sleep latency, awakening time and fast wave sleep latency were shortened, the number of awakening was increased, the total sleep time was prolonged, the sleep efficiency and proportion of fast wave sleep were increased, S 1-S 2 ratio in slow-wave sleep was decreased, S 3-S 4 ratio was increased, BIS value was decreased, rSO 2 was increased, each parameter of Continuous Attention Test was decreased and each parameter of Behavioral Test for Performing Defect Syndrome was increased after treatment, and plasma noradrenaline level was decreased at T 8 in group S ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Stellate ganglion block can improve nighttime sleep quality in patients with primary sleep disorders.