[The stellate ganglion blockade]
1Klinik für Anaesthesiologie, Krankenanstalten Konstanz.
Abstract:
Stellate ganglion block is a selective sympathetic blockade affecting one side of the head and neck, and the upper extremity and upper part of the thorax on the same side. It is an important method of treating impaired vascular circulation, sympathetic reflex dystrophy, causalgia and herpes zoster in the area other indications, e.g. acute hearing loss and retinal arterial spasms, are still disputed. The anatomy of the cervical sympathetic chain, the technique used to achieve the block (paratracheal access) and tests of the effectiveness of stellate ganglion blockade are described. The side-effects and complications of the method and other means of sympathetic blockade are discussed. Patients need to be informed of the possible complications and the alternatives available before being asked to give informed consent.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Blockers
Neuromuscular Junction And Blockade
Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Pharmacological Actions
Although all competitive neuromuscular blockers are designed...
Depolarizing Blockers: Mechanism of Action
Succinylcholine is the most commonly used depolarizing blocker. Chemically, it constitutes two molecules of acetylcholine joined together by an acetate methyl group. They act on the receptors in the same way as acetylcholine. Because succinylcholine...
Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Mechanism of Action
Competitive antagonists prevent acetylcholine from binding to its receptor, inhibiting membrane depolarization. Without conformational changes or intrinsic...
Sympathetic Pathways: Sympathetic Chain Ganglia


