A study of cerebral circulation following cervical sympathetic ganglion block
Iwama, H.
Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 41(8): 1250-1259
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892 PMID: 1433846 Document Number: 403705
Cerebral circulation following cervical epidural block or stellate ganglion block at the transverse process of the 6th cervical vertebra (C-6-SGB) was evaluated by single photon emission computed tomography of inhaled Xenon-133. Cerebral blood flow before and 15 min after both blocks was measured in eight patients after cervical epidural block and ten patients after C-6-SGB. Cerebral blood flow decreased slightly following cervical epidural block, but it was not a statistically significant difference. Cerebral blood flow following C-6-SGB could be separated into two groups; in one it increased and in the other it decreased slightly. In conclusion, cerebral circulation is not influenced by cervical epidural block, but it is probably affected by C-6-SGB. The manner in which C-6-SGB increases cerebral blood flow seems that local anesthetics reach the superior cervical ganglion and block it. C-6-SGB without superior cervical ganglion block does not influence cerebral circulation, and it only dilates extracranial vessels.