Stellate Ganglion Blockade: an Intervention for the Management of Ventricular Arrhythmias

Clinical effect of perioperative stellate ganglion block on mechanical ventilation and respiratory function of elderly patients with septic shock

BACKGROUND

Here we investigated the effect of a stellate ganglion block on the perioperative mechanical ventilation and postoperative recovery of respiratory function of elderly patients with infectious shock.

METHODS

Thirty-six elderly patients with septic shock who underwent emergency general anesthesia at our hospital were randomly divided into treatment (T) and control (C) groups (n = 18 each). Group T received a preoperative stellate ganglion block, whereas group C received normal saline. Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels were compared preoperatively and at 1 and 7 days postoperative. Mean arterial pressure, oxygen saturation, and mean pulmonary artery pressure were measured preoperative and postoperative as well as at 1 and 7 days later. A blood gas analysis was performed preoperatively, at the end of the operation, during extubation, and at 1 and 7 days postoperative. Intubation under general anesthesia, the completion of anesthesia, and spontaneous respiratory recovery involve pulmonary dynamic compliance, plateau pressure, and mechanical ventilation.

RESULTS

General condition did not differ significantly between groups (P > .05). However, mean arterial pressure at the end of surgery and at 1 and 7 days postoperative were significantly higher in group T versus C (P < .05). Furthermore, mean oxygen saturation at the end of surgery and at 1 and 7 days postoperative was significantly lower in group T versus C (P < .05), while procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels were significantly lower at 1 and 7 days postoperative. Group T had significantly better arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of oxygen, and partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen than group C at the end of surgery, during extubation, and at 1 and 7 days postoperative (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Group T exhibited superior inflammatory responses and respiratory function. Stellate ganglion block in elderly patients with septic shock reduces inflammation, improves mechanical ventilation perioperatively, and promotes postoperative recovery and respiratory function.

The usefulness of stellate ganglion block with ultrasound-guided lateral paracarotid approach in ventricular arrhythmias: A case series

Ventricular arrhythmias are life-threatening cardiac events. Sympathetic nervous system blockade represents a crucial therapeutic method for refractory ventricular arrhythmias. Ultrasound (US) imaging for stellate ganglion block (SGB) suggests potential for its application to safer and more accurate methods. We had thirteen patients diagnosed with refractory ventricular arrhythmia and referred to the pain clinic for SGB. We visited the intensive care unit (ICU) and performed SGB with the lateral paracarotid approach technique in the ICU. Using a new approach, we easily performed SGB and felt the convenience of the procedure in the ICU. In eleven cases, we also confirmed that the effect of the block with the new technique was satisfactory. SGB, with the new technique, revealed efficiency in the recovery process of the patients. We recommended the lateral paracarotid approach technique for SGB when a patient in an ICU showed ventricular arrhythmias and should be treated with SGB.

A Multicenter Study of Stellate Ganglion Block as a Temporizing Treatment for Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias

BACKGROUND

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are life-threatening conditions and can be refractory to conventional drug and device interventions. Stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) has been described as an adjunct, temporizing intervention in patients with refractory ventricular arrhythmia. We examined the association of SGB with VT/VF in a multicenter registry.

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the efficacy of SGB for treatment/temporization of refractory VT/VF.

METHODS

The authors present the first analysis from a multicenter registry of patients treated for refractory ventricular arrhythmia at a clinical site in the Czech Republic and the United States. Data were collected between 2016 and 2022. SGB was performed at the bedside by anesthesiologists and/or cardiologists. Outcomes of interest were VT/VF burden and defibrillations at 24 hours before and after SGB.

RESULTS

In total, there were 117 patients with refractory ventricular arrhythmias treated with SGB at Duke (n = 49) and the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (n = 68). The majority of patients were male (94.0%), were White (87.2%), and had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (70.1%). The most common etiology of heart disease was ischemic cardiomyopathy (52.1%), and monomorphic VT was the most common morphology (70.1%). Within 24 hours before SGB (0-24 hours), the median episodes of VT/VF were 7.5 (Q1-Q3: 3.0-27.0), and 24 hours after SGB, the median decreased to 1.0 (Q1-Q3: 0.0-4.5; P < 0.001). At 24 hours before SGB, the median defibrillation events were 2.0 (Q1-Q3: 0.0-8.0), and 24 hours after SGB, the median decreased to 0.0 (Q1-Q3: 0.0-1.0; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In the largest cohort of patients with treatment-refractory ventricular arrhythmia, we demonstrate that SGB use was associated with a reduction in the ventricular arrhythmia burden and need for defibrillation therapy.

Sympathetic nerve blocks for posttraumatic stress disorder: an evidentiary review for future clinical trials

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic disorder resulting from exposure to traumatic events. In recent years, sympathetic nerve blocks have gained interest as an emerging treatment modality for PTSD. They have been shown to reduce autonomic dysfunction associated with PTSD symptoms, particularly in refractory and treatment-resistant patients. However, there is limited evidence regarding the technique's effectiveness in PTSD patients. Therefore, this scoping review was designed to update and summarize the current literature on this topic to inform the design of future clinical trials and studies. Our review of 22 studies (mostly case reports and series) included 1,293 PTSD patients who received sympathetic nerve blocks, primarily military service members and veterans, with a median age of 42.2 years. 0.5% Ropivacaine was the preferred anesthetic, and the right sided stellate ganglion block was the most commonly used technique. Relapse of symptoms was reported commonly, resulting in additional nerve block sessions. Most reported side effects were mild and transient. Despite the encouraging results, we remain cautious in interpreting the benefit of the technique due to the lack of sufficient standardized clinical trial data, heterogeneity in reported results, and the potential for bias in reporting. Future studies should focus on evaluating and addressing the technique's effectiveness, safety, tolerability, and indications.

Recent Advances in Therapeutic Modalities Against Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: Future Epigenetic Landscape

Background: Lymphedema is a significant postsurgical complication observed in the majority of breast cancer patients. These multifactorial etiopathogenesis have a significant role in the development of novel diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and the development of novel therapies. This review aims to ascertain the epigenetic alterations that lead to breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), multiple pathobiological events, and the underlying genetic predisposing factors, signaling cascades pertinent to the lapses in effective prognosis/diagnosis, and finally to develop a suitable therapeutic regimen. Methods and Results: We have performed a literature search in public databases such as PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, National Library of Medicine and screened several published reports. Search words such as epigenetics to induce BCRL, prognosis/diagnosis, primary lymphedema, secondary lymphedema, genetic predisposing factors for BRCL, conventional therapies, and surgery were used in these databases. This review described several epigenetic-based predisposing factors and the pathophysiological consequences of BCRL, which affect the overall quality of life, and the interplay of these events could foster the progression of lymphedema in breast cancer survivors. Prognosis/diagnostic and therapy lapses for treating BCRL are highly challenging due to genetic and anatomical variations, alteration in the lymphatic vessel contractions, and variable expression of several factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-E and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) in breast cancer survivors. Conclusion: We compared the efficacy of various conventional therapies for treating BCRL as a multidisciplinary approach. Further substantial research is required to decipher underlying signaling epigenetic pathways to develop chromatin-modifying therapies pertinent to the multiple etiopathogenesis to explore the correlation between the disease pathophysiology and novel therapeutic modalities to treat BCRL.

Reconceptualizing Acute Pain Management in the 21st Century

Acute pain can have many etiologies that include surgical procedures, trauma (motor vehicle accident), musculoskeletal injuries (rib fracture) and, burns among others. Valuable components of a multimodal approach to acute pain management include both opioid and non-opioid medications, procedure specific regional anesthesia techniques (peripheral nerve blocks and neuraxial approaches), and interventional approaches (eg, peripheral nerve stimulation and cryo-neurolysis). Overall, successful acute perioperative pain management requires a multimodal, multidisciplinary approach that involves a coordinated effort between the surgical team, the anesthesia team, nursing, and pharmacy staff using Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols.

Role of ventrolateral part of ventromedial hypothalamus in post-myocardial infarction cardiac dysfunction induced by sympathetic nervous system

Psychological stress has been recognized as a contributing factor to worsened prognosis in patients with cardiac failure following myocardial infarction (MI). Although the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHVL) has been implicated in emotional distress, its involvement in post-MI cardiac dysfunction remains largely unexplored. This study was designed to investigate the effect of the VMHVL activation in the MI rat model and its underlying mechanisms. Our findings demonstrate that activation of VMHVL neurons enhances the activity of the cardiac sympathetic nervous system through the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and superior cervical ganglion (SCG). This activation leads to an elevation in catecholamine levels, which subsequently modulates myosin function and triggers the release of anti-inflammatory factors, to exacerbate the post-MI cardiac prognosis. The denervation of the superior cervical ganglion (SGN) effectively blocked the cardiac sympathetic effects induced by the VMHVL activation, and ameliorated the cardia fibrosis and dysfunction. Therefore, our study identified the role of the "VMHVL-PVN-SCG" sympathetic pathway in the post-MI heart, and proposed SGN as a promising strategy in mitigating cardiac prognosis in stressful rats.

Stellate ganglion block catheter for paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity: calming the 'neuro-storm'

BACKGROUND

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) is an autonomic disorder affecting patients with severe acquired brain injury characterized by intermittent sympathetic discharges with limited therapeutic options. We hypothesized that the PSH pathophysiology could be interrupted via stellate ganglion blockade (SGB).

CASE PRESENTATION

A patient with PSH after midbrain hemorrhage followed by hydrocephalus obtained near-complete resolution of sympathetic events for 140 days after SGB.

CONCLUSION

SGB is a promising therapy for PSH, overcoming the limitations of systemic medications and may serve to recalibrate aberrant autonomic states.

New trends in non-pharmacological approaches for cardiovascular disease: Therapeutic ultrasound

Significant advances in application of therapeutic ultrasound have been reported in the past decades. Therapeutic ultrasound is an emerging non-invasive stimulation technique. This approach has shown high potential for treatment of various disease including cardiovascular disease. In this review, application principle and significance of the basic parameters of therapeutic ultrasound are summarized. The effects of therapeutic ultrasound in myocardial ischemia, heart failure, myocarditis, arrhythmias, and hypertension are explored, with key focus on the underlying mechanism. Further, the limitations and challenges of ultrasound therapy on clinical translation are evaluated to promote application of the novel strategy in cardiovascular diseases.

Early ganglion stellate blockade as part of two-step treatment algorithm suppresses electrical storm and need for intubation

BACKGROUND

For the treatment of patients with electrical storm (ES), we established a two-step algorithm comprising standard anti-arrhythmic measures and early ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion blockade (SGB). In this single-center study, we evaluated the short-term efficacy of the algorithm and tested the hypothesis that early SGB might prevent the need for intubations.

METHODS

Overall, we analyzed data for 70 ES events in 59 patients requiring SGB (mean age 67.7 ± 12.4 years, 80% males, left ventricular ejection fraction 30.0% ± 9.1%), all with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).

RESULTS

The mean time from ES onset to SGB was 13.2 ± 12.3 hours. Percentage and mean absolute reduction in shocks at 48 hours after SGB reached 86.8% (-6.3 shocks), and anti-tachycardiac pacing (ATP) declined by 65.9% (-51.1 ATPs; all P < 0.001). Patients with the highest sustained ventricular arrhythmia (VA) burden (shocks ≥10/48 h; ATPs 10-99/48 h and ≥100/48 h) experienced the highest percentage decrease in ICD therapy (shocks -99.1%; ATPs -92.1% and -100.0%, respectively). For clinical response by defined criteria and two outcome periods (1/no sustained VA ≤48 hours post SGB, and 2/no ICD shock or <3 ATPs/day from day 3 to discharge/catheter ablation/day 8), 75.7% and 76.1% experienced complete response, respectively. Catecholamine support, no/low-dose β-blocker therapy, polymorphic/mixed-type VA, and baseline sinus rhythm versus atrial fibrillation were more frequent in patients with early arrhythmia recurrence. Temporary Horner's syndrome occurred in 67.1%, and no other adverse events were recorded. Intubation and general anesthesia during and after SGB were not needed.

CONCLUSION

The presented two-step algorithm for treating ES proved efficacious and safe. The results support implementation of early SGB in routine ES management.

Intraoperative sudden arrhythmias in cervical spine surgery adjacent to the stellate ganglion: A case report

BACKGROUND

Atrial arrhythmias such as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) and atrial flutter (AF) are common in the perioperative setting. They commonly resolve spontaneously. However, occasionally, they may continually progress to fatal arrhythmias or cause complications. Therefore, prompt and appropriate management is important.

CASE SUMMARY

A 46-year-old female patient diagnosed with cervical C6-7 radiculopathy characterized by decreased sensation in the right third, fourth and fifth fingers underwent C6-7 anterior cervical disc fusion surgery. Electrocardiography showed PSVT and ventricular tachycardia during C6-7 disc retraction. However, the patient remained stable. Initial treatment with esmolol and lidocaine for ventricular tachycardia was ineffective. Carotid massage and Valsalva maneuver were attempted but PSVT did not resolve. The surgery was paused, and the patient's fraction of inspired oxygen was set to 100%. Adenosine was administered for pharmacological management of PSVT. The arrhythmia temporarily resolved. However, it then transformed into AF. Diltiazem was administered, which briefly decreased blood pressure, which immediately recovered. Surgery resumed while the patient was in normal sinus rhythm. She was discharged safely on postoperative day 6 without complications or abnormalities. Currently, she is living a healthy life without arrhythmia recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Ganglia associated with cardiac arrhythmias in the surgical site should be identified during cervical spine surgery.

Treatment of stellate ganglion block in diseases: Its role and application prospect

The stellate ganglion (SG), as a type of sympathetic ganglion, consists of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae and the first thoracic sympathetic ganglia. SG block (SGB) is a minimally invasive injection that aims to inject low-concentration local anesthetics to induce a broad sympathetic blocking effect near the SG. There have been no changes and progress in the clinical application of SGB since the 1830s due to several potential risks, including hematoma from blood vessel injury, hoarseness from recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and cardiopulmonary arrest. The feasibility and safety of SGB have greatly improved since the appearance of ultrasound-guided SGB. In recent years, SGB has been widely applied in the field of non-anesthesiology sedation, with significant therapeutic effects on pain, immunological diseases, somnipathy, psychological disorders, arrhythmias, and endocrine diseases. The present study reviews the present application of SGB in clinical practice.

Left Stellate Ganglion Blockade for Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias With Aconitine Poisoning: A Case Report

Aconitine poisoning causes refractory ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). In a 20-year-old man, VAs of unknown etiology did not respond to drugs and electrical defibrillation. However, left stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) dramatically decreased arrhythmias without complications. At a later date, we found that refractory VAs were caused by aconitine poisoning. Left SGB is effective for treating refractory VAs with aconitine poisoning and can be easily performed with few complications for VAs of unknown etiology even if patients are receiving anticoagulant therapy. Also, left SGB can be performed to diagnose refractory VAs.

Ultrasound-Guided Stellate Ganglion Radiofrequency in a Patient with Ventricular Tachycardia Sensitive to Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: A Case Report

Introduction

Electrical storms and ventricular tachycardia are two life-threatening arrhythmias that are becoming more common. In developing ventricular arrhythmias, the sympathetic nervous system plays a vital role. Stellate ganglion (SG) block can be used in many situations as an important therapeutic target, like treating tachyarryhthmias and ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Case Presentation

The patient was a 53 years old woman with a history of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) insertion due to ventricular tachycardia. The patient complained of an awkward and unpleasant sensation when the ICD sensed the tachyarrhythmia and shocked her. Regarding the positive response to the previous SG block, with the goal of a longer duration of this effect, stellate ganglion radiofrequency was performed.

Conclusions

Stellate ganglion radiofrequency shows a safe and long-term effect for patients with tachyarrhythmias and ICD who cannot tolerate episodes of ICD activation.

A Review of Stellate Ganglion Block as an Adjunctive Treatment Modality

Peripheral nerve blocks are becoming increasingly used as adjunctive treatment modalities for a variety of conditions refractory to medical management. Right or left stellate ganglion blocks (SGB) are a specific type of peripheral nerve block that target the sympathetic blockade of neuronal impulses using the injection of local anesthetic and steroids into nerve bundles in the cervical area. This review article is intended to summarize the common uses of stellate ganglion blocks and explain the procedural technique, which has evolved with technological advances in ultrasonography. The similarities between these disease processes are centered around sympathetic hyperactivity. This sympathetic overdrive state is created by increased levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), which causes a cascade of sympathetic sprouting resulting in increased norepinephrine (NE) systemically. Reversal of this cascade by local anesthetic injection into the stellate ganglion thereby reduces NGF and sympathetic sprouting subsequently lowering overall norepinephrine levels. This is the unifying theory by which SGB is able to provide resolution for the varied clinical conditions described in this article.  This review article discusses the physiology of several conditions where stellate ganglion blocks are being investigated as an adjunct treatment modality, including anosmia, PTSD, long-COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome, menopausal hot flashes, and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Overall, the current literature supporting the use of stellate ganglion blocks for several esoteric conditions is limited; however, case reports to date have shown promising evidence-based results supporting their use as an adjunctive treatment among patients with refractory symptoms to existing treatment algorithms. In conclusion, SGB should be considered among patients with refractory symptoms for medical management in the conditions discussed in this article. Further research is needed to delineate which patients will benefit from the use of SGB, the use of subsequent blocks and timelines in between injections, and unilateral versus bilateral blockade.

Autonomic modulation of ventricular electrical activity: recent developments and clinical implications

PURPOSE

This review aimed to provide a complete overview of the current stance and recent developments in antiarrhythmic neuromodulatory interventions, focusing on lifethreatening vetricular arrhythmias.

METHODS

Both preclinical studies and clinical studies were assessed to highlight the gaps in knowledge that remain to be answered and the necessary steps required to properly translate these strategies to the clinical setting.

RESULTS

Cardiac autonomic imbalance, characterized by chronic sympathoexcitation and parasympathetic withdrawal, destabilizes cardiac electrophysiology and promotes ventricular arrhythmogenesis. Therefore, neuromodulatory interventions that target the sympatho-vagal imbalance have emerged as promising antiarrhythmic strategies. These strategies are aimed at different parts of the cardiac neuraxis and directly or indirectly restore cardiac autonomic tone. These interventions include pharmacological blockade of sympathetic neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, cardiac sympathetic denervation, thoracic epidural anesthesia, and spinal cord and vagal nerve stimulation.

CONCLUSION

Neuromodulatory strategies have repeatedly been demonstrated to be highly effective and very promising anti-arrhythmic therapies. Nevertheless, there is still much room to gain in our understanding of neurocardiac physiology, refining the current neuromodulatory strategic options and elucidating the chronic effects of many of these strategic options.

Effect of the relative position of electrode and stellate ganglion during thermal radiofrequency ablation: a simulation study

PURPOSE

Stellate ganglion (SG) block by thermal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is frequently conducted as a therapeutic intervention for sympathetic-maintained and neuropathic pain syndromes. RFA's partial lack of effectiveness could be partly due to the ablation zone (AZ) not completely covering the SG section and therefore preventing the 'cutting' of the afferent pathways. Our objective was to build a theoretical model to conduct computer simulations to assess the effect of the electrode position relative to the SG.

METHODS

A three-dimensional model was built including the SG and adjacent tissues (vertebrae C7-T1-T2, trachea, carotid artery and vertebral artery). RFA (90-s, 80 °C) was simulated considering a 22 G-5 mm electrode. The AZ was computed using the 50 °C isotherm.

RESULTS

An electrode displacement of 2 mm in any direction from the optimal position (centered on the SG) meant that the AZ did not fully cover the SG section. Likewise, SG size considerably affected the RFA effectiveness since the AZ fully covered the section of small but not large SGs.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the currently used SG RFA settings (i.e., 22 G-5 mm electrode, 90-s, 80 °C) may not be appropriate due to their inability to achieve an AZ that fully covers the SG cross section under certain circumstances, such as a large SG and non-optimal positioning of the RF electrode with respect to the SG center.

Clinical Study of Stellate Ganglion Block Combined with General Anesthesia on Hemodynamics, Cognitive Function, and Gastrointestinal Function in Elderly Patients Undergoing Partial Hepatectomy

Partial hepatectomy under general anesthesia is prone to hemodynamic alterations, and stress reactions are the main contributing factors to postoperative cognitive function in elderly partial hepatectomy patients. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction increases the incidence of postoperative complications and long-term morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. With the increasing trend of aging population and the gradual increase of elderly people undergoing surgical treatment, it is especially important to study the corresponding prevention and treatment measures. In this study, a total of 90 patients with primary liver cancer who received hepatectomy in our hospital from July 2020 to July 2021 were included as the research subject. The changes in hemorheology, stress-related indexes, cognitive function, postoperative pain, and gastrointestinal function were compared between the two groups The results showed that SGB combined with general anesthesia can effectively reduce hemodynamic fluctuations in elderly partial hepatectomy patients, alleviate surgical stress, promote postoperative recovery of cognitive function and gastrointestinal function with high safety, and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Stellate ganglionitis in sudden cardiac death: A case report

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most common natural cause of death. The hypothesized mechanism of death is an arrhythmia precipitated by increased sympathetic outflow. The left stellate ganglion provides sympathetic innervation to the heart and plays a role in arrhythmogensis. We present a SCD with stellate ganglionitis in which the inflammatory cells were characterized. The case was 37-year-old man who died from ischemic and hypertensive heart disease. The left stellate ganglion showed lymphocytic inflammation with features of humoral immune response. This case report provides evidence that stellate ganglionitis can be seen in SCD and raises the possible association between the two.