[Complications of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block in patients suffering from chronic pain]

ABSTRACT

Stellate ganglion is a sympathic ganglion in the neck area which by effective blocking a lot of chronic pain syndromes at upper limbs, head, neck and chest can be treated. In this study, results of ultrasound-guided Stellate ganglion block in 44 patients have been reviewed. In this case series, 44 patients candidate for stellate ganglion block due to chronic pain were enrolled. Ultrasound-guided block was performed with bupivacaine 0.5% on level of C-6 tubercle. Successful blockage was diagnosed in the presence of horner syndrome and variation in temperature in two hands. Any Complications were recorded. Among 44 recruited patients, 18 cases were excluded for unsuccessful block. In the 26 remaining patients, a total of 101 Stellate ganglion blocks were performed. Among these, one had hoarseness, and three cases had cough. There was no life threatening side effect, vessel puncture, paresthesia or neuroaxial injection. The use of sonography in order to perform Stellate ganglion block may improve the success rate and reduce the complications attributable to blind needle insertion