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Stellate Ganglion Block

1. What is Stellate Ganglion Block?

2. How is it done?

3. How long does it last?

4. What are the Expected Results?

1. What is Stellate Ganglion Block?
   
   A block that is performed under to determine if there is damage to the sympathetic nerve chain and if it is the source of the patient’s arm pain. It allows good pain relief for sometime allowing you to have physical therapy during this period. The block also resets your pain level to a lower level, so that when it wears off the pain does not return to its initial level.
   
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2. How is it done?
   
   A local skin anesthetic is given near the base of the neck on the affected side. A needle is inserted by the Pain specialist near the transverse process of the cervical spine (usually at the cervical-6 level). A sterile tubing is attached to the needle and anesthetic medication is slowly injected through the tubing.
   
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3. How long does it last?
   
   It takes less than thirty minutes for the procedure followed by evaluation and recovery for several hours.
   
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4. What are the Expected Results?
   
   The patient may note increased warmth and redness of the painful arm during and after the injection. The patient can expect hoarseness of their voice, redness of the eye, drooping of the eyelid and pupillary constriction for four to eight hours after the injection. Pain relief may be noted immediately. Duration of relief is variable. The patient must assess their pain relief over the first three to four hours after the injection and report this to the anesthesiologist.
   
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This page was last updated on Monday, April 10, 2006 08:32:36 AM