• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 1997

Background : Endotracheal intubation is one of the methods most securely establishing airway. But accompanying hemodynamic responses are harmful to coronary or cerebral vascular disease patients. These hemodynamic responses are regarded as the results of sympathetic stimulation due to pharyngolaryngeal stimulation, and sympathetic blocking method-stellate ganglion block- may be obtundate these hemodynamic responses. Methods : 75 patients of ASA physical status I-II were selected. There were 40 patients normotensive (Group I), 35 patients hypertensive (Group II) Group I, steliate ganglion block was performed on 20 patients (Group I-S) the remainder had no procedure (Group I-O). Group II, 18 patients received SG3 (Group II-S), 17 patients had no procedure (Group II-O). SGB was performed with 1% lidocaine 8 ml on right stellate genglion after patient's consent. Blood pressure (IIP) and pulse rate(PR) were first measured in the pre-anesthesia room. Follow up BP and PR are checked immediately following SGB and every 5 minutes for subsequent 20 minutes, then after arrival at operatig room, then immediately after intubation and at 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after incubation. Results : All group experienced significantly increased blood pressure and pulse rate upon arrival at the pre-anesthesetic and opeating rooms, as compared to when patients rates in the ward. After intubation and for subsequent 5 minutes, significant changes were measured. Patients then recovered to preblock value. In Group I, no statistical significance was recorded between subgroup I-S and I-O. However in Group II, there were significant differences between sub-group II-S and II-O. In evaluating pulse rate changes, there were no significant differences between Group I-S and I-O; nor II-S and II-O. Conclusion : The proper diagnosis of Stellate Ganglion Block had some measure of protective effect on hemodynamics following endotracheal intubation, especially in hypertensive patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 1996

Stellate ganglion block(SGB) improves cutaneous blood flow of the head and neck region and upper extremity. For this reason, SGB has been performed in neural and circulatory disorders. But there is controversy on the cerebral blood flow regulation by sympathetic innervation. We investigated the hypothesis that cerebral blood flow could be affected by blocking ipsilateral sympathetic innervation of cerebral blood flow could be affected by blocking ipsilateral sympathetic innervation of cerebral vasculature. In 10 volunteers, the blood flow velocity and pulsatility index(PI) of middle cerebral artery(MCA) was measured using Transcranial Doppler Flowmeter, before and 15 minutes after SGB, at block side and opposite side. The blood flow velocity of MCA at block side was increased from $62.60{\pm}7.60$ cm/s to $72.80{\pm}8.01$ cm/s(P<0.01) and the PI at block side decreased from $0.75{\pm}0.12$ to $0.60{\pm}0.11$(P<0.05). But the blood flow velocity and PI at opposite side did not change. This study demonstrated that the cerebral blood flow could be increased by SGB, the preganglionic nerve fibers of which synapse with other cervical sympathetic ganglions.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 1994

Measurement of skin temperature is most frequently used to evaluate effect of sympathetic block. Sticker type skin temperature indicator, $ProChecker^{(R)}$, uses metamocolor, which changes the darkness of the color by giving and taking of electrons in response to temperature. We examined the accuracy of this skin temperature indicator in pain clinic patients who were treated with stellate ganglion block. Ten minutes before, and 10~20 minutes after stellate ganglion block, skin temperature on both dorsum of hand were measured using both $ProChecker^{(R)}$ and thermography concurrently. The results showed that skin temperature measured by $ProChecker^{(R)}$ was feasible, in correlation to thermography. Sticker type temperature indicator ($ProChecker^{(R)}$) is concluded as a useful monitor of skin temperature during nerve block in outpatient clinics.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.248-250
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• 1996

Stellate ganglion block(SGB), cervicothoracic sympathetic block, is the most widely practiced procedure in pain clinics. We experienced a case of 47 year old male patient who had received SGB & developed prolonged complication of Horner's syndrome. The patient was an anesthesiologist at our clinic who's medical history was unremarkable except mild hypertension. He wanted to experience the general effect of SGB and to evaluate the influence of SGB on blood pressure. After 15 days, he recovered spontaneously from Horner's syndrome. As with this case, it is necessary to assure patients they will recover from complications within several months, at the longest, without any sequelae.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.115-118
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• 2006

Among the sympathetic blocks used to treat various symptoms and diseases, including sympathetic dysfunction in pain clinics, a stellate ganglion block (SGB) is one of the easiest to apply. However, it is difficult to evaluate the effects of SGB due to the subjective nature of patient-reported data. A 26-year-old female, who presented with symptoms of coldness and sweating on both hands, received SGB 25 times on each side over a 2-month period. The effects of SGB were followed up using a cold stress test with thermography. Although the symptoms appeared again after 6 months, the recovery rate of the palmar temperature after the cold stress test improved significantly and was maintained for 18 months.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 1995

Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is applicated frequently to increase the blood flow and to reduce the pain in head, neck and upper extremity. The effects of SGB are able to be estimated by clinical signs and symptoms of Horner's syndrome, skin warmth, anhydrosis, etc. The effects are also estimated by sympathetic function and the blood flow. Blood flow velocities and pulsatility indices of common carotid,d axillary, brachial and radial artery were measured by Doppler flowmeter after SGB with 1% lidocaine at C6 level. Blood velocities of all arteries were increased and pulsatility indices of all arteries were decreased. This results suggest that SGB increase the blood flow of head and upper extremity and Doppler flowmeter is a good indicator of the effects of SGB.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.231-233
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• 2001

Atrophic rhinitis is characterized by mucosal atrophy, bony absorption, persistent fetid odor and resistance to medical and surgical treatment. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) can be used as a therapeutic modality by improving the regional blood flow through sympathetic blockade. We present a case of a 57 year-old male patient who had been treated unsuccessully for atrophic rhinitis for several years by surgical and conservative measures. The patient presented at our pain clinic with shoulder pain and received stellate ganglion block once or twice a week. He received more than 75 SGBs in addition to the routine conservative treatment for atrophic rhinitis. As the number of blocks performed increased, the patient demonstrated subjective symptom relief. We measured regional mucosal blood flow using a laser doppler flowmeter after the 28th, 63rd and 75th blocks. Nasal mucosal blood flow was improved by 4.9%, 28.8% and 36.3% respectively. We also were able to observe the recovery of mucosal atrophy to an almost normal level by nasal endoscopy. The patient is currently free of symptoms and is being followed up on an outpatient bases.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.54-57
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• 1997

Background : The tonsillar region is innervated by the sensory components of the glossopharyngeal nerve(IX) which communicates with certain part of cervical sympathetic ganglion. Some authors suggest stellate ganglion block(SGB) is effective for treatment of recurrent tonsillitis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of SGB in controlling pain after tonsillectomy. Methods : Forty five patients, evaluated to ASA class 1 and 2, scheduled for tonsillectomy under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups (group I: control; group II: SGB with 1% lidocaine 5 ml; group III: SGB with 2% lidocaine 2.5 ml plus 0.5% bupivacaine 2.5 ml), SGB was performed at the end of surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed with Numeric Rating Scale(NRS) NRS assessment was made 30, 60, 90 min, 2 h, 4 h, 24 h, 48 h after tonsillectomy. Results : Pain scores, after 30 min in group II, III and 60, 90 min in group III were significantly lower than group I(p<0.05). Conclusions : We found SGB was effective in controlling pain after tonsillectomy but further studies are required needs to prolong duration of relief..

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 1994

The impact of cardiovascular changes occurred by endotracheal intubation is risky for patients with ischemic heart disease, or intracranial pathologic conditions typically impairing cerebral autoregulatory mechanisms. Therefore, multiple approaches have been utilized to limit the impact of intubation and reduce damage of central nervous and cardiovascular systems. These approaches include modifications in intubation technique to diminish circulatory stimuli and pharmacologic modifications of either the sensory afferent path or the circulatory response itself. We tried the stellate ganglion block, a kind of sympathetic block, for the same purpose and evaluated the results. The results of study are as follows, 1) Blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly after intubation as compared with preintubation in both control group and SGB group. 2) The difference of the two groups is not found. We conclude the above method does not control cardiovascular consequences of endotracheal intubation.

• 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.