What is a Stellate Ganglion Block?

The stellate ganglion is found behind the C7 vertebrae-in the neck on either side of your voice box. A stellate ganglion block is actually an injection of local anesthetic; It's often given to relive chronic pain syndromes such as Tietze's syndrome. According to Redding Anesthesia, it's also given as treatment for:

• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
• Sympathetic Maintained Pain
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• Herpes Zoster (shingles)

What to expect

According to the University of Washington, When you have a stellate ganglion block, you will lie down on an operating table with your neck extended with your head rotated to one side. You'll be asked to lie with your mouth open. A technician will prep you for the operation by cleaning your neck and covering the area with a drape. After giving you some general anesthetic, your doctor will place the needle for the stellate ganglion block in your neck, between the trachea and the carotid sheath, just above the collarbone. You will feel some pressure (it will probably be uncomfortable but should not be painful) as your doctor pushes on you to make sure the needle does not puncture the lung. After checking with medical imaging to make sure the needle is in the right place, your doctor may perform a short test to make sure the needle has not pierced an artery or vein. After receiving the injection, you'll be asked to sit up so that the local anesthetic can spread down to the stellate ganglion.

The entire procedure will only take a short time-the injection itself takes a few minutes. The procedure can be uncomfortable because of the need to exert pressure and the fact that the needle will be traveling into deep tissue. According to Redding Anesthesia, the discomfort may be alleviated by first injecting a small amount of local anesthetic into the tissue. Be sure to talk with your medical provider about this possibility.

After the operation

Although this is a simple operation, you will probably be advised to have a responsible adult accompany you home from the procedure.

Redding Anesthesia states that possible common side effects are soreness in the neck and temporary pain. There are, however, risks associated with any type of invasive procedure. Rarely, patients experience the following side effects from this particular procedure:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• spinal block
• epidural block
• injection into blood vessels and/or surrounding organs

References
University of Washington. Illustrated Notes in Regional Anasthetic: Stellate Ganglion Block. University of Washington
Redding Anesthesia. Stellate Ganglion Block FAQs. Redding Anesthesia.