Calming the storm – Stellate ganglion block in refractory ventricular arrhythmia in the emergency department

Author(s):  
Mohd. Yaseen ◽  
Akshay Kumar ◽  
Irtiqa Sheikh ◽  
Afroz Fatima ◽  
Sanjeev Bhoi ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 506-511

Ventricular arrhythmias are usually well controlled with medical management, cardiac implantable electronic devices, or catheter ablation. However, the refractory ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT/VF) is life threatening and challenging. The authors reported a case series of left stellate ganglion blocks (LSGB) in patients with refractory VT/VF, who failed pharmacological treatment and multiple traditional cardiac interventions. Five patients underwent six LSGB. Four patients had significant decreased in ventricular arrhythmia burden. Among the responders, the LSGB suppressed significant VT/VF for three to seven days. Blocks did not only temporary suppress ventricular arrhythmia, but also stabilized the condition and served as a bridge to definitive treatment such as EP ablation or heart transplantation. There was no significant hemodynamic change or devastating side effects. The outcome from the present case series suggested that LSGB could be an effective treatment and a lifesaving intervention frintractable VT/VF. Keywords: Stellate ganglion block, Refractory ventricular tachycardia, Sympathectomy



EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
O Jiravsky ◽  
R Spacek ◽  
J Chovancik ◽  
R Stepanova ◽  
M Hudec ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Malignant arrhythmic storm (MAS) increases mortality more than three-fold according to current data. In the acute setting, besides resolving reversible causes, antiarrhythmics are the mainstay of treatment. The role of suppressing the local sympathetic nervous system activity, using stellate ganglion block (SGB) for example, is still being investigated.  Purpose To show short-term efficacy of SGB in suppressing the ventricular arrhythmia recurrence in MAS. To identify subgroups of patients with better clinical response after SGB. Methods All consecutive patients with MAS, with standard treatment failure and ventricular arrhythmia recurrence, treated with ultrasound guided SGB, instilating 7ml of 0,5% Bupivacain. 58 MAS treated with SGB durin 2017 – 2020. There were 49 men (84,5%), average age 68,7 +/- 11,4, with average left ventricular EF 28,9 +/- 8,43%. There were 17 diabetics (29,3%).  Results When we compare the numbers of defibrillations for sustained ventricular tachycardia 48 hours before and 48 hours after SGB, being the primary therapeutic endpoint in MAS, we see a 96,7% reduction (p < 0,001). When we evaluate ventricular arrhythmias treated with both antitachycardia pacing and shocks, then we see 90% reduction (p < 0,001). The effect of SGB in ventricular arrhythmia suppression was statistically significant during the entire follow-up of 8 days. When we analyzed the cohort, looking for groups showing better response after SGB in terms of ventricular arrhythmia reduction, the only group showing statistical significance in this regard are patients with diabetes mellitus.  Conclusions In our cohort, stellate ganglion block is exceptionally effective in the treatment algorithm of malignant arrhythmic storm. SGB shows significantly higher efficacy in the subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus. Abstract Figure. VA before and after BSG



2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 030006052098564
Author(s):  
Yunyao Xu ◽  
Yuenong Zhang

Patients with several concurrent illnesses often present with complex manifestations and therefore receive a variety of treatments. The purpose of this report was to describe a patient diagnosed with hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, cerebral infarction, and ventricular arrhythmia. The patient also had multiple physiological and psychological disorders, including dizziness, frequent ventricular premature beats, hypotension, anxiety, and insomnia. Among other treatments, the patient received a stellate ganglion block and most symptoms were substantially alleviated. Therefore, stellate ganglion block appears to be a useful approach for treating perplexing clinical conditions in patients with autonomic dysfunction.



2004 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jang Ho Roh ◽  
Jeong In Lee ◽  
Kyung Bong Yoon ◽  
Won Oak Kim ◽  
Duck Mi Yoon


2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 773-779
Author(s):  
Christopher Wendel ◽  
Ricardo Scheibe ◽  
Sören Wagner ◽  
Wiebke Tangemann ◽  
Hans Henkes ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVECerebral vasospasm (CV) is a delayed, sustained contraction of the cerebral arteries that tends to occur 3–14 days after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) from a ruptured aneurysm. Vasospasm potentially leads to delayed cerebral ischemia, and despite medical treatment, 1 of 3 patients suffer a persistent neurological deficit. Bedside transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography is used to indirectly detect CV through recognition of an increase in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV). The present study aimed to use TCD ultrasonography to monitor how CBFV changes on both the ipsi- and contralateral sides of the brain in the first 24 hours after patients have received a stellate ganglion block (SGB) to treat CV that persists despite maximum standard therapy.METHODSThe data were culled from records of patients treated between 2013 and 2017. Patients were included if an SGB was administered following aSAH, whose CBFV was ≥ 120 cm/sec and who had either a focal neurological deficit or reduced consciousness despite having received medical treatment and blood pressure management. The SGB was performed on the side where the highest CBFV had been recorded with 8–10 ml ropivacaine 0.2%. The patient’s CBFV was reassessed after 2 and 24 hours.RESULTSThirty-seven patients (male/female ratio 18:19), age 17–70 years (mean age 49.9 ± 11.1), who harbored 13 clipped and 22 coiled aneurysms (1 patient received both a coil and a clip, and 3 patients had 3 untreated aneurysms) had at least one SGB. Patients received up to 4 SGBs, and thus the study comprised a total of 76 SGBs.After the first SGB, CBFV decreased in 80.5% of patients after 2 hours, from a mean of 160.3 ± 28.2 cm/sec to 127.5 ± 34.3 cm/sec (p < 0.001), and it further decreased in 63.4% after 24 hours to 137.2 ± 38.2 cm/sec (p = 0.007). A similar significant effect was found for the subsequent SGB. Adding clonidine showed no significant effect on either the onset or the duration of the SGB. Contralateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow was not reduced by the SGB.CONCLUSIONSTo the authors’ knowledge, this is the largest study on the effects of administering an SGB to aSAH patients after aneurysm rupture. The data showed a significant reduction in ipsilateral CBFV (MCA 20.5%) after SGB, lasting in about two-thirds of cases for over 24 hours with no major complications resulting from the SGB.



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