Stellate ganglion block (also called a cervicothoracic sympathetic block) isused primarily to treat Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, but has also been used to treat refractoryangina,phantom limb painandvascular insufficiency(such as Raynaud’s or frostbite),hyperhydrosisand other things. The stellate ganglion isformed by the fusion of the inferior cervical and first thoracic sympathetic ganglia anterior to the vertebral body of C7.
Lumbar sympathetic blocks(performed at ~L2) have been used for CRPS, as well as vascular insufficiency (ex. in diabetic lower limb ischemia).
Sympathetic Block: Indications
- Upper and Lower:CRPS(primary indication), vascular insufficiency (ex. Raynaud’s, diabetes, or frostbite), phantom limb pain, hyperhidrosis, herpes zoster
- Upper only: angina
- Lower only: labor pain, cystitis
Copyright Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.