Chemical blockage of cervical sympathetic trunks for facial palsy

Impairment of microcirculation of the facial nerves is considered to play an important role in etiology of facial palsy, and the main emphasis of the conservative treatment is aimed at circulatory improvement. Therefore, at the pain clinic, improved blood flow to the facial nerve by chemical blockage of cervical sympathetic trunks (stellate ganglion block; SGB) is employed in treating patients with facial palsy. The circulatory effects of SGB were clinically determined in 20 patients with acute Bell's palsy, and the effects of chemical blockage of cervical sympathetic trunks on the tissue circulation of facial nerve were also experimentally evaluated in dogs. In the clinical study, the blood flow volume of the common carotid artery increased significantly in 5 minutes after SGB, and has reached its peak of 176.4% in 20 minutes. This significant increase continued up to 75 minutes. In the animal model experiments, the common carotid arterial blood flow volume increased immediately after performing experimental SGB with a peak rise of 143.5% in 15 minutes, and the significant increase continued up to 45 minutes. The blood flow volume in the facial nerve tissue also increased for 5 minutes with a peak rise of 115.2% in 20 minutes after SGB, and this significant increase persisted for up to 60 minutes. A marked increase was observed in the blood flow volume in the facial nerve tissue as well as through the common carotid artery. The circulatory improvement performed by SGB extended as far as the facial nerve itself. From the facts above mentioned, SGB is considered to be an extremely effective treatment for the Bell's palsy.