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Thoracic Sympathetic Ganglion Block Inadvertent Spread

Incidence of Inadvertent Intercostal or Epidural Spread During Thoracic Sympathetic Ganglion Block

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03995576
Enrollment
53
Registered
2019-06-24
Start date
2019-06-23
Completion date
2019-08-12
Last updated
2019-09-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Thoracic; Sympathetic Ganglion, Injury

Brief summary

This study wants to identify the incidence of inadvertend intercostal or epidural spread of thoracic sympathetic block

Detailed description

Clinically, sympathetic blocks (SB) have been used widely to relieve the symptoms of SMP or to differentiate between SMP and sympathetically independent pain. In order to an SB has a diagnostic value, it requires the successful disturbance of the sympathetic activity for a proper duration of time. For the diagnosis of SMP using an SB, it is essential achieving complete interruption of the sympathetic activity while preserving the sensory and motor function. The sympathetic trunk at lumbar region runs on the anterolateral surface of the vertebral column from L1 to L4 levels, and deep to the medial aspect of the psoas major muscle. Therefore, the investigators can hardly find epidural contrast spread during lumbar SB due to an anterior location of lumbar sympathetic ganglion to the lateral vertebral body. However, frequent psoas muscle injection can be encountered due to a close proximity of lumbar sympathetic ganglion. In contrast to lumbar sympathetic ganglion, the thoracic sympathetic ganglion is not separated from somatic nerves by muscles and connective tissue. Moreover, the upper thoracic ganglion runs on the posterior surface of vertebral column with close proximity to adjacent epidural region. This difference of thoracic sympathetic ganglion leads to a frequent epidural and intercostal spread if the investigators perform thoracic SB. Such spread to epidural and intercostal space lowers the diagnostic value of thoracic SB. In addition, serious adverse outcome can be encountered if neurolytic agent is injected into epidural or intercostal space for the purpose of thoracic sympathectomy. Considering the diagnostic value and safety of thoracic SB, evaluation of actual incidence of occurrence of intercostal and epidural spread is important.

Interventions

OTHERthoracic sympathetic ganglion block

thoracic sympathetic ganglion block which needle reaches posterolateral vertebral body

Sponsors

Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* complex regional pain syndrome * lymphedema after breast cancer surgery

Exclusion criteria

* coagulopathy * infection * previous spine fusion at thoracic level

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
incidence of intercostal spread60 seconds after the completion of thoracic sympathetic ganglion block. 60 seconds means the time when the outcome was measured after thoracic sympathetic ganglion blockintercostal spread which appears at fluorosopic view after contrast medium injection
incidence of epidural spread60 seconds after the completion of thoracic sympathetic ganglion block. 60 seconds means the time when the outcome was measured after thoracic sympathetic ganglion blockepidural spread which appears at fluorosopic view after contrast medium injection

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
degree of finger tip skin temperature increase5, 10, 15, 20 minutes after the completion of the intervention 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes mean the time that the outcome was measured after performing the interventionSkin temperature measurement which is observed after successful sympathetic block

Countries

South Korea

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026