• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.158-162
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• 2018

Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is one of the most intractable complications after surgery. Patients suffer from physical impairment, as well as psychological depression. Moreover, a recent study revealed that cellulitis significantly increased the risk of BCRL, and cellulitis has been suggested as a risk factor of BCRL development. We describe a patient treated with stellate ganglion blocks (SGBs) without steroid for relief of symptoms and reduction of the arm circumference of breast cancer-related infectious lymphedema in a month. We measured the arm circumference at four locations; 10 cm and 5 cm above and below the elbow crease, numeric rating scale (NRS) score, lymphedema and breast cancer questionnaire (LBCQ) score on every visit to the pain clinic. A serial decrease of the arm circumference and pain score were observed after second injection. In the middle of the process, cellulitis recurred, we performed successive SGBs to treat infectious lymphedema. The patient was satisfied with the relieved pain and swelling, especially with improved shoulder range of motion as it contributes to better quality of life. This case describes the effects of SGB for infectious BCRL patients. SGB could be an alternative or ancillary treatment for infectious BCRL patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.226-232
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• 1998

With recent advancements in the instrumentation and technique of VATS, it has become the method of choice to cure facial hyperhidrosis. From July 1996 to April 1997, we performed 43 thoracic lower stellate ganglionectomy with VATS for facial hyperhidrosis. There were 33 men and 10 women whose ages ranged from 17 to 63 years(mean age, 37 years). Of those patients, 23 complained only of facial hyperhidrosis, and 20 complained of facial hyperhidrosis along with excessive sweating of the palm or foot. Thoracoscopic sympathetic ganglionectomy procedures included lower stellate ganglionectomy in 12 patients; lower stellate ganglionectomy and T2-sympathetic ganglionectomy in 28 patients; and lower stellate, T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglionectomy in 3 patients. Common complications were compensatory hyperhidrosis(36 patients) and causalgia(8 patients). At the end of the follow-up period(minimum, 3 months) ninety-five percent of the patients reported satisfactory results. Thoracic lower stellate ganglionectomy with VATS is an efficient, safe and minimally invasive surgical procedure for facial hyperhidrosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.254-257
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• 1994

In the patients having constipation or irritable bowel syndrome, stellate ganglion block is commonly used in many pain clinics because of its excellent effects. But in the case of patients having spinal cord injury complain constipation, its management is very difficult and there is no report about the effects of stellate ganglion block in this case. We experieced good results that stellate ganglion block was very effective in the patients having spinal cord injury complaining severe constipation and other symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.164-167
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• 1995

Stellate ganglion block(SGB) is a widely used sympathetic block to diagnose or treat various painful conditions. We experienced a rare case who exhihited a contralateral Horner's syndrome following SGB. A 64-year-old female patient suffering from postherpetic neuralgia on mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve visited our pain clinic. She complained of severe burning and shooting pain on right side lower lip, ear and temporal area. We modified her previous medications and performed repeated right SGB daily, in combination with mandibular or mental and auriculotemporal nerve blocks twice a week. Her symptoms were progressively improved. A contralateral Horner's syndrome occured after the thirteenth SGB, which was performed under several attempts in the same manner and the same physician. She had no evidence of subarachnoid or brachial plexus blocks. She did not need any special treatment and returned home 2 hours later. Subsquent blocks were followed on ipsilateral Horner's syndromes.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 1989

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.519-524
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• 1998

From January 1996 to December 1996, we performed 137 thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomies with VATs for primary hyperhidrosis in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Anam hospital, Korea university medical center. There were 83 men and 54 women whose ages ranged from 13 to 63 years old(mean age: 25years). Of these patients, 128 patients had complained of palmar hyperhidrosis and 26 of facial hyperhidrosis. Thoracoscopic sympathetic ganglionectomies procedures included lower 1/3 Stellate ganglionectomies in 4 patients; lower 1/3 Stellate ganglionectomies and T2-sympathetic ganglionectomies in 18 patients; T2-sympathetic ganglionectomies in 86 patients; T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglionectomies in 10 patients; and T2, T3 and T4 sympathetic ganglionectomies in 19 patients. The mean operating time was 59 minutes(range: 25 to 162 minutes), and the mean hospital stay was 3.8 days(range: 2 to 8 days). Common complications were compensatory hyperhidrosis(109 patients) and causalgia(18 patients). At the end of the follow-up period(mean: 8 months) ninety-seven percent of the patients reported satisfactory results. Thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy with VATs is an efficient, safe, and minimally invasive surgical procedure for primary hyperhidrosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.258-262
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• 1994

Thermography is a non-invasive, comfortable, diagnostic technique to monitor successful sympathetic block. We observed abnormal thermal distribution during disease state and then followed with thermography on the process of treatment with stellate ganglion block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2001

Background: It had been reported by authors that linear polarized infrared light radiation (Superizer: SL) near the stellate ganglion had a similar effect on the change of skin temperature of hand compared with the stellate ganglion block (SGB). We hypothesized that this was due to dilatation of vessels and an increased blood flow. The aim of this study was to measure the velocity of blood flow in peripheral vessels after linear polarized infrared light radiation near the stellate ganglion and to compare the effect of SL with that of SGB using local anesthetics. Methods: Forty patients whose clinical criteria were matched for the symptoms of SGB were selected for study. We radiated the stellate ganglion by linear polarized infrared light radiation and measured the blood flow of radial artery using Ultrasound Doppler blood flow meter before and after 10, 20 and 30 minutes post-radiation. After 3 days, SGB was performed using 8 ml of 1% mepivacaine to the same patient, and the radial artery blood flow was measured in the same manner. Results: The blood flow velocity was increased by 40% and 27% at 10 min and 20 min after SL and by 42% and 41% at 10 min and 20 min after SGB. However, there was no statistically significant difference in blood flow velocity between SGL and SGB. Conclusions: We could conclude that linear polarized radiation is a clinically simple and useful noninvasive therapeutic tool in clinical area.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.121-123
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• 1997

Stellate ganglion block(SGB) is frequently performed to relieve a patient from headache of various. We experienced a rare case of subarachnoid hemorrhage by aneurysmal rupture after SGB. A 46-year-old female patient diagnosed with tension headache, and normal MRI finding consulted our pain clinic. We performed right SGB in combination with greater occipital nerve block. The next day, we performed left SGB with 6 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine. She had no evidence of subarachnoid block or intravascular injection. 15 minutes after injection, she abruptly developed convulsion and loss of consciousness. She was given artificial respiration with oxygen. The diagnosis of ruptured left posterior communicating aneurysm was confirmed by 4-vessels angiography.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.235-237
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• 1999

Meniere's disease is a disorder of the membranous labyrinth that is characterized by vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus and ear fullness. The etiology of Meniere's disease is yet to be described and the management is also very difficult. Fifty-one years old female patient had paroxysm of severe tinnitus and dizziness after medical therapy and surgical intervention during several years. Patient received stellate ganglion block (SGB) and her symptoms were completely relieved. Therefore, SGB could be considered another therapeutic modality for Meniere's disease.