Efficacy Of Clonidine & Steroid In Stellate Ganglion Block - Tapa blanda

Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is commonly indicated in painful conditions of upper extremity, head and neck like complex regional pain syndrome, head and neck malignancy, vascular insufficiency of the upper limb and many others. It is utilized in the diagnosis and management of various vascular disorders and sympathetically mediated pain in upper extremity, head and neck. The cervical sympathetic chain is composed of superior, middle, intermediate and inferior cervical ganglia. However, in approximately 80% of population, inferior cervical ganglion is fused with first thoracic ganglion, forming the stellate ganglion also known as cervicothoracic ganglion. The stellate ganglion lies medial to the scalene muscles, lateral to longus colli muscle, esophagus and trachea along with recurrent laryngeal nerve, anterior to transverse process and prevertebral fascia, superior to the subclavian artery and posterior to vertebral vessels at C7 level. Consequently, inadvertent placement of the needle tip into these soft tissues and vessels occur with blind or fluoroscopy guided SGB. Sonographic guidance may prevent such complications.

Dr Anju Ghai MBBS, MD Anaesthesia is currently working as professor in Department of Anaesthesiology & Critical Care at Pt BDSharma,PGIMS,Rohtak, University of health sciences, Rohtak,Haryana, INDIA. She has been teaching Anaesthesia since last 16 years. She has published more than 85 scientific papers in national and international journals.