Effects of continuous stellate ganglion block on serum thyroid hormone and cortisol levels in patients with severe brain injury / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of continuous stellate ganglion block (SGB) on serum thyroid hormone and cortisol levels in patients with severe brain injury.Methods Eighty ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients with severe brain injury aged 22-61 yr undergoing emergency craniotomy were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n = 40 each) control group (group C) received routine treatment only and continuous SGB group (group SGB) received continuous SGB with 0.2% ropivacaine besides routine treatment. SGB was performed on the operated side after induction of general anesthesia and tracheal intubation. An epidural catheter was placed. A bolus of 0.2% ropivacaine 7 ml was followed by continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine at a rate of 2 ml/h. Continuous SGB was maintained for 48 h. Successful SGB was confirmed by increase in skin temperature by ≥1.5℃ behind earlobe on the operated side.Venous blood samples were obtained at 30 min before and 3 and 7 day after operation for determination of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3) ,thyroxine (T4) , reverse triiodothyronine(rT3) and cortisol concentrations. Glasgow prognosis score was used to evaluate the clinical results at 3 months after operation. Results Serum T4 , rT3 , TSH and cortisol concentrations were significantly lower while the serum T3 concentration was higher in the SGB group than in group C at 3 and 7 d after operation. The clinical results were significant better in SGB group than in group C according to Glasgow prognosis scores at 3 months after operation. Conclusion Continuous SGB can inhibit the stress response, and improve hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid gland axis function and is helpful to patient's recovery from injury.