Stellate ganglion block: Emphasis on the new oblique fluoroscopic approach

Abdi, Salahadin; Zhou, Yili; Doshi, Rajiv; Patel, Nilesh

doi:10.1053/j.trap.2005.05.005

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Volume 9, Issue 2 , Pages 73-80, April 2005

Stellate ganglion block: Emphasis on the new oblique fluoroscopic approach

Salahadin Abdi, MD, PhD
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine, and Pain Management, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Address reprint requests and correspondence: Salahadin Abdi, MD, PhD, MGH Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, Suite 333B, Boston, MA 02114.
Yili Zhou, MD, PhD
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine, and Pain Management, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
Rajiv Doshi, MD
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
Nilesh Patel, MD
- Advanced Pain Management, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Stellate ganglion block is utilized both as a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic procedure for certain types of chronic neuropathic pain conditions, namely sympathetically mediated and/or sympathetically maintained pain syndrome. There are various techniques available to successfully block this ganglion. This article discusses the techniques used to block the stellate ganglion. However, special emphasis is given to our new oblique approach to successfully block this ganglion. Additionally, our article discusses among others, the anatomy of the ganglion, indications and contraindications for the block, drug selections and complications.

Keywords: Anatomy , Fluoroscopy guide , Stellate ganglion , Sympathetically maintained pain