[Influence of bilateral stellate ganglion block on hemodynamics]

This study was designed to investigate the influence of bilateral stellate ganglion block (SGB) on hemodynamics in 15 mongrel dogs. Following general anesthesia, each dog received SGB with 1.5% mepivacaine. Cardiovascular effect of bilateral SGB was assessed by measuring mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), right atrial pressure (RAP), mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and common carotid arterial blood flow (CCAF). These were measured directly by a Swan-Ganz catheter and ultrasonic blood flow meter, during the first 15 minutes after SGB. A decrease of MAP and HR was observed after bilateral SGB. CO decreased for 13% compared with the control value. However, this change was not statistically significant. There was a significant increase in the bilateral CCAF, but the degree of the increase of CCAF was greater after unilateral SGB than after the bilateral SGB.