title: Effect of stellate ganglion block on the cerebrovascular system: magnetic resonance angiography study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have shown that stellate ganglion block (SGB) is an effective treatment for certain cerebrovascular related diseases; however, the direct effect of SGB on the cerebral vasculature is still unknown. The present study investigated the effect of SGB on the cerebral vascular system using magnetic resonance angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography images of 19 healthy female volunteers (mean ages of 46.4 ± 8.9 yr) were obtained before and after SGB with 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging. The authors determined successful interruption of sympathetic innervation to the head with the appearance of Horner syndrome and conjunctival injection. We measured changes in the average signal intensity and diameter of the major intracranial and extracranial arteries and their branches, which were presented with mean (±SE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The signal intensity changes were observed mainly in the ipsilateral extracranial vessels; the external carotid artery (11.2%, P < 0.001) and its downstream branches, such as the occipital artery (9.5%, P < 0.001) and superficial temporal artery (14.1%, P < 0.001). In contrast, the intensities of the intracranial arteries did not change with the exception of the ipsilateral ophthalmic artery, which increased significantly (10.0%, P = 0.008). After SGB, only the diameter of the ipsilateral external carotid artery was significantly increased (26.5%, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We were able to observe significant changes in the extracranial vessels, whereas the intracranial vessels were relatively unaffected (except for the ophthalmic artery), demonstrating that both perivascular nerve control and sympathetic nerve control mechanisms may contribute to the control of intracranial and extracranial blood vessels, respectively, after SGB.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Namdong-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Seung-Taek
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Rack Kyung
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hyon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chan-A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Dong Yeon
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Zang-Hee
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006732:Horner Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008875:Middle Aged; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005730:Ganglionic Blockers