title: Stellate ganglion blockade for analgesia following upper limb surgery.
abstract: We report the successful use of a stellate ganglion block as part of a multi-modal postoperative analgesic regimen. Four patients scheduled for orthopaedic surgery following upper limb trauma underwent blockade of the stellate ganglion pre-operatively under ultrasound guidance. Patients reported excellent postoperative analgesia, with postoperative VAS pain scores between 0 and 2, and consumption of morphine in the first 24 h ranging from 0 to 14 mg. While these are preliminary findings, and must be confirmed in a clinical trial, they highlight the potential for stellate ganglion blockade to provide analgesia following major upper limb surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Finnerty
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Laffey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011859:Radiography; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine