Ultrasound-guided Stellate Ganglion Block

Abstract

Ultrasound has emerged as an important and inseparable tool in the field of anesthesiology and pain management. Its use is increasing everyday to aid in regional anesthesia and in chronic pain interventions. It is replacing fluoroscopy to guide many chronic pain interventions, especially the sympathetic blocks like stellate ganglion block, celiac plexus block, superior hypogastric plexus block, ganglion impar block, etc. Stellate ganglion block is used in the treatment of wide variety of chronic painful conditions of head, neck and the upper limb. Hence, it is one of the commonest procedures in chronic pain management. Stellate ganglion block is commonly performed under fluoroscopy guidance. Use of ultrasound during this procedure has shown to be as effective as the fluoroscopy-guided technique, more safe than fluoroscopy and can avoid radiation exposure. In this article, we have described the merits and demerits of the ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion blockade as compared to the fluoroscopy.