Circulatory effects of stellate ganglion block and high thoracic epidural block
Murakawa, K.; Noma, K.; Ishida, K.; Matsuda, M.; Terashita, K.; Maeda, S.; Izumi, R.
Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 43(7): 998-1003
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892 PMID: 7933488 Document Number: 432043
A comparative study of the circulatory effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) and high thoracic epidural block (TEB) was conducted in 11 patients. Although blood pressure and heart rate showed no significant changes even after SGB, they both decreased significantly following TEB. The blood flow in the common carotid artery (CCA) increased markedly at 5 minutes after performing SGB, and at 20 minutes it reached its peak value of 163.5+- 7.8%, and the increase remained significant up to 75 minutes. On the other hand, it increased significantly from 5 minutes after performing TEB and reached its peak of 122.2+-7.6% at 15 minutes, and this increase remained significant up to 60 minutes. In comparing these two nerve blocks, the blood flow in the CCA showed a more marked increase following SGB than after TEB from 5 to 60 minutes after performing. The blood flow rate in the CCA increased markedly from 5 minutes after performing SGB, reached its peak of 139.1+-11.3% at 20 minutes, and this increase remained significant up to 60 minutes thereafter, After performing TEB no significant changes were observed. In comparing SGB and TEB, from 5 to 60 minutes after performing, the rate became markedly faster after SGB than after TEB. The vascular diameter of the CCA from 5 minutes after performing SGB showed a slight but significant enlargement, and at 20 minutes it reached its maximum of 111.7+-3.0%, and this significant enlargement persisted up to 60 minutes. From 10 minutes after performing TEB, it showed a slight but significant enlargement. At 20 minutes it reached its maximum value of 109.7+-2.4%, and this enlargement remained significant up to 60 minutes thereafter. In comparing these two nerve blocks, in regard to changes in the vascular diameter of the CCA, no significant differences were observed at any time period.