The spread of solutions during stellate ganglion block.
OBJECTIVE
Though cervical paratracheal injections for the purpose of sympathetic block are customarily referred to as stellate ganglion blocks, there is no documentation of the actual site of local anesthetic action. The objective of this study is to test whether solution travels to the stellate ganglion during injections commonly used to anesthetize it.


METHODS
In eight volunteers, magnetic resonance imaging was used to delineate the distribution of 15 ml saline injected by an anterior paratracheal technique at the sixth and seventh cervical vertebral levels.


RESULTS
Injectate was not delivered to the stellate ganglion but rather passed anterior to it.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that sympathetic neural block during stellate ganglion block may take place at sites other than the stellate ganglion.
Hogan
Q H
QH
Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Erickson
S J
SJ
Haddox
J D
JD
Abram
S E
SE
D000328:Adult; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012996:Solutions; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014132:Trachea
D012996:Solutions; D012965:Sodium Chloride