TY - JOUR
T1 - Cervical sympathetic block to reverse delayed ischemic neurological deficits after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
AU - Treggiari, Miriam M.
AU - Romand, Jacques André
AU - Martin, Jean Baptiste
AU - Reverdin, Alain
AU - Rüfenacht, Daniel A.
AU - De Tribolet, Nicolas
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2003/4/1
Y1 - 2003/4/1
N2 - Background and Purpose - The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a locoregional cervical sympathetic block to improve cerebral perfusion in patients suffering from cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods - Nine consecutive patients with symptoms of delayed ischemic deficits, induced by angiographically confirmed cerebral vasospasm, were treated with the injection of locoregional anesthesia to block the ascending cervical sympathetic chain at the level of the superior cervical ganglion. Neurological status was recorded before and after the procedure, and cerebral angiography was performed before and after the procedure. Results - No complications occurred in this short series. The procedure appeared to be simple and safe. Homer's signs appeared within 12±0.1 minutes and lasted for an average of 6.3±4 hours. In all patients, improved cerebral perfusion was detected at the confirmatory angiography but without change in vessel caliber. One patient died of the complications of the initial hemorrhage, and 2 died of the consequences of the severe vasospasm despite maximal medical treatment. In all the other cases, the neurological status promptly returned to normal within 48 hours after the locoregional treatment. Conclusions - Patients with mild to moderate symptoms seem to benefit greatly from transient ipsilateral cervical sympathetic block. This simple technique may be helpful when used as an adjunct to the standard therapy to improve cerebral perfusion.
AB - Background and Purpose - The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a locoregional cervical sympathetic block to improve cerebral perfusion in patients suffering from cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods - Nine consecutive patients with symptoms of delayed ischemic deficits, induced by angiographically confirmed cerebral vasospasm, were treated with the injection of locoregional anesthesia to block the ascending cervical sympathetic chain at the level of the superior cervical ganglion. Neurological status was recorded before and after the procedure, and cerebral angiography was performed before and after the procedure. Results - No complications occurred in this short series. The procedure appeared to be simple and safe. Homer's signs appeared within 12±0.1 minutes and lasted for an average of 6.3±4 hours. In all patients, improved cerebral perfusion was detected at the confirmatory angiography but without change in vessel caliber. One patient died of the complications of the initial hemorrhage, and 2 died of the consequences of the severe vasospasm despite maximal medical treatment. In all the other cases, the neurological status promptly returned to normal within 48 hours after the locoregional treatment. Conclusions - Patients with mild to moderate symptoms seem to benefit greatly from transient ipsilateral cervical sympathetic block. This simple technique may be helpful when used as an adjunct to the standard therapy to improve cerebral perfusion.
KW - Anesthesia, local
KW - Autonomic nerve block
KW - Cerebrovascular disorders
KW - Human
KW - Vasospasm, intracranial
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U2 - 10.1161/01.STR.0000060893.72098.80
DO - 10.1161/01.STR.0000060893.72098.80
M3 - Article
C2 - 12649526
AN - SCOPUS:0037385051
SN - 0039-2499
VL - 34
SP - 961
EP - 966
JO - Stroke
JF - Stroke
IS - 4
ER -