• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this study is to have examined the influence on the blood circulation by comparing the differences between stimulating the sympathetic ganglion and the muscle group among the stimulation variables in interferential current stimulation. Method: The object of the study is the twenties(M=8, F=12), who are in great condition and have no pathological report for the blood circulation influence. The intensity of the inferential current stimulation is the medium degree, 100 bps constant current, which is the comfort and degree to confirm the muscle contraction. The areas stimulated are the stellate ganglion area in the seventh cervical vertebrae and the forearm muscle area. Results: We have made sure that there is no change in blood pressure and pulse and that the change in the skin temperature occurred highly. Conclusion: In considering the change of the blood circulation in case of stimulation area by the inferential current stimulation, we have seen that stimulating the sympathetic ganglion area is more effective than stimulating muscle area directly.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.138-142
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• 1998

Fibromyalgia syndrome is defined as a diffuse, aching musculoskeletal pain associated with multiple and discrete predictable tender points along with stiffness. A primary form associated without any disease is uncommon compared to the secondary diffuse fibrositis. We witnessed a case of a primary fibromyalgia syndrome. A 28-year-old woman was suffering from pain on posterior neck, right shoulder, upper back, left hand and arm for two years. She also complained of morning stiffness, fatigue, and headache. We treated her with stellate ganglion block with 0.25% bupivacaine, medication that included amitriptyline, TENS and superlizer. We also recommended aerobic exercise.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.340-343
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• 1996

Background: In our hospital, stellate ganglion block(SGB) has been performed for the prevention and treatment of vasospasm after microscopic reimplantation of finger(s). If brachial plexus block(BPB) has the same effect of sympathetic block on the upper extremity as SGB, it may be preferable to the SGB because it povides postoperative analgesia and is administered continuously. So we measured and compared the change of skin temperature on the forearm as the parameter of sympathetic blockade after SGB and BPB. Methods: The forty-two patients, belonged to ASA class 1~2, were received BPB for hand surgery. The skin temperature was measured before and after BPB on the forearm with patient monitor(LN 6199, YSI 400 Series Temperature Probe, Hellige, Germany). After 24 hours, ipsilateral SGB was performed and skin temperature was recorded before and after SGB. Results: The increase of skin temperature after procedures was $1.1{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$(from $34.5{\pm}0.7^{\circ}C$ to $35.6{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$) in BPB and $0.6{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$(from $34.9{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ to $35.5{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$) in SGB. The changes of skin temperature in both blocks were statistically significant(p<0.01), and the skin temperatures after each procedure were revealed no significant difference(p$\simeq$0.62). Conclusion: We thought that BPB produced sympathetic blockade on the upper extremity as much as SGB. Moreover, it provides postoperative pain relief and may be employed as continuous BPB could be used for hand surgery with many advantages.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9505-9509
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• 2014

Objective: To investigate the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on the peri-operative vasomotor cytokine content and intrapulmonary shunt in patients with esophagus cancer who underwent thoracotomy. Materials and Methods: Forty patients undergoing elective resection of esophageal cancer patients who had I~II American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) were randomly divided into total intravenous anesthesia group (group N, n=20) and total intravenous anesthesia combined with SGB group (group S, n=20, 0.12 mL/kg 1% lidocaine was used for SGB 10 min before induction). Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) and continuous cardiac output (CCO) were continuously monitored. The blood from internal jugular vein was drawn respectively before induction ($T_0$), and 30 min ($T_1$), 60 min ($T_2$) and 120 min ($T_3$) after one-lung ventilation (OLV), and 30 min (T4) after two-lung ventilation. The contents of plasma endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Meanwhile, arterial and mixed venous blood samples were collected for determination of blood gas and calculation of intrapulmonary shunt fraction (Qs/Qt). Results: During OLV, ET contents were increased significantly in two groups (P<0.05), and no significant difference was presented (P>0.05). NO content in group S was obviously higher than in group N at T3 (P<0.05), whereas CGRP content in group N was markedly lower than in group S at each time point (P<0.05). Qs/Qt was significantly increased in both groups after OLV, but there was no statistical significant regarding the Qs/Qt at each time point between two groups. Conclusions: Total intravenous anesthesia combined with SGB is conducive to regulation of perioperative vasomotor cytokines in thoracotomy, and has little effect on intrapulmonary shunt at the time of OLV.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.208-212
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• 1993

Allergy is one of the most common intractable disease, and also allergic rhinitis is the common symptom of the allergic diseases encountered in the otolaryngologic department. There are number of treatment such as: allergen avoidance by environmental control, pharmacotherapy, allergen immunotherapy and more. But choosing the exact reguired treatment is very difficult and troublesome. During the past 3 years, we have provided treatments to 49 allergic rhinitis patients with the combined therapy of stellate ganglion block(SGB) and eletrical acupuncture(E-AP) with very good results. From our experiences we highly recommend the combined therapy with SGB and E-AP for allergic rhinitis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2005

Objectives : This study is a random-controlled post-design for confirmation of headache degree, quality of life, and satisfaction to therapeutical effect on chronic headache adults after management of non-medicinal treatment (acupuncture therapy and stellate ganglion block therapy). Methods : 51 clinical experiment participants were gathered and through a questioutaire patients who experienced headache for more than 4 hours a day and more than 15 days per month were qualified as chronic headache patients. The qualified patients were classified in to two groups, acupuncture group (AT group, n=28) and stellate ganglion block group (SGB group, n=23). Treatment was applied 2 times a weeks for 4 weeks. The effects of both groups were analyzed using VAS scores, BPI (Brief Pain Inventory) and the satisfaction degree to the therapy. Results : 1. The recognized score of the headache of AT group and SGB group was reduced indicating the degree of the headache was released. 2. The recognition at damage to the quality of life was reduced post therapy of AT group and SGB group, in which general activity, mood, enjoyment of life, personal relationship, and sleeping showed significant improvement of life quality, 3. The satisfaction degree to the therapy showed lower score than expectation to it in AT group and SGB group, however, it was not significant. Conclusions : The results showed that the four-week non-medicinal treatment (AT and SGB) in chronic headache patients was effective for reducing headache and releasing its damage in daily life, however, no difference in superiority was found. Therefore, non-medicinal treatment (AT therapy and SGB) could be utilized in chronic headache patients.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.158-162
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• 2018

Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is one of the most intractable complications after surgery. Patients suffer from physical impairment, as well as psychological depression. Moreover, a recent study revealed that cellulitis significantly increased the risk of BCRL, and cellulitis has been suggested as a risk factor of BCRL development. We describe a patient treated with stellate ganglion blocks (SGBs) without steroid for relief of symptoms and reduction of the arm circumference of breast cancer-related infectious lymphedema in a month. We measured the arm circumference at four locations; 10 cm and 5 cm above and below the elbow crease, numeric rating scale (NRS) score, lymphedema and breast cancer questionnaire (LBCQ) score on every visit to the pain clinic. A serial decrease of the arm circumference and pain score were observed after second injection. In the middle of the process, cellulitis recurred, we performed successive SGBs to treat infectious lymphedema. The patient was satisfied with the relieved pain and swelling, especially with improved shoulder range of motion as it contributes to better quality of life. This case describes the effects of SGB for infectious BCRL patients. SGB could be an alternative or ancillary treatment for infectious BCRL patients.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.199-204
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• 2018

Background: The authors have performed ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block (SGB) in our clinic using a lateral paracarotid approach at the level of the 6th cervical vertebra (C6). Although SGB at C6 is a convenient and safe method, there are ongoing concerns about the weak effect of sympathetic blockade in the ipsilateral upper extremity. Therefore, ultrasound-guided SGB was attempted using a lateral paracarotid approach at the level of the 7th cervical vertebra (C7). This prospective study aimed to compare changes in skin temperature after SGB was performed at C6 and C7, and to introduce a lateral paracarotid approach for SGB. Methods: Thirty patients underwent SGB twice: once at C6 and once at C7. For every SGB, the skin temperature of the patient's hypothenar area was measured for 15 min at 1-min intervals. Skin temperatures before and after SGB and side effects were compared between C6 and C7 groups. Results: The temperature of the upper extremity increased after SGB was performed at C6 and C7. There were significant differences between mean pre-SGB and the largest increases in post-SGB temperatures ($0.50{\pm}0.38^{\circ}C$ and $1.41{\pm}0.68^{\circ}C$ at C6 and C7, respectively; p<0.05). Significantly increased post-SGB temperatures (difference > $1^{\circ}C$) were found in 5/30 (16.7%) and 24/30 (80%) cases for C6 and C7, respectively (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in side effects between SGB performed at C6 or C7 (p>0.05). Conclusion: The lateral paracarotid approach using out-of-plane needle insertion for ultrasound-guided SGB performed at C7 was feasible and more effective at elevating skin temperature in the upper extremity than SGB at C6.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.84-87
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• 1994

Retrospective analysis, of 1,734 patients treated for nerve block from October 1991 to March 1994. Largest percentage of patients were in the 50 year old range, with a distribution of 44.9% male and 55.1% female. Treatments were for ailments of: Low Back Pain 17.3%, Multiple Contusion 10.5%, and Cancer 10%. Most common nerve block was epidural block 38.6%, followed by stellate ganglion block 38.4%, intercostal block 5.4%, and suprascapular nerve block 5.2%. Nerve block under fluorscopic guide were as follows: facet joint block 34.1%, lumbar sympathetic ganglion block 13.6%, and celiac plexus block 12.9%.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.97-100
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• 1997

We treated a 56 year old male ailing of painful herpetic eruption on his 2nd, 3rd and 4th left cervical spinal segment. On the 18th day, patient also suffered an abrupt left facial palsy, accompanied with ongoing postherpetic neuralgia even though the skin eruption had been cured. This patient visited our pain clinic on his 46th day of illness and was teated with continuous cervical epidural block for 9 days, and stellate ganglion block plus oral analgesics and antidepressant for 12 days. The combination of treatments resulted in marked improvement of facial palsy and postherpetic neuralgia. A possible explanation of facial palsy accompanied with herpes zoster on cervical spinal segment could be related to Hunt's hypothesis that geniculate ganglion forms a chain connecting the high cervical ganglion below. Another possibility may be related to a compression injury of the facial nerve by long-term severe edema on the soft tissue of the face, the periauricular area and parotid gland around the facial nerve, and edema on the facial nerve itself emerging out from the cranium.