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A Study of Stellate Ganglion Block for Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation

Stellate Ganglion Blockade for the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05357690
Enrollment
200
Registered
2022-05-03
Start date
2023-04-19
Completion date
2026-06-08
Last updated
2026-07-10

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

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to test if a nerve block procedure called a stellate ganglion block can help decrease the chance of atrial fibrillation after surgery. Atrial fibrillation is the abnormal, fast beating of the upper chambers of the heart. Stellate ganglion blockade has shown to decrease other types of abnormal heart rhythms as well as decrease the chance of atrial fibrillation.

Detailed description

The investigator hypothesizes that stellate ganglion blockade with local anesthetic performed prior to cardiac surgery will reduce the incidence and duration of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). Specific Aim 1: Determine the incidence of POAF in patients receiving pre-surgical stellate ganglion blockade with local anesthetic versus saline placebo within one week of surgery or during hospitalization if discharged prior to one week. Specific Aim 2: Determine the duration of POAF in patients receiving pre-surgical stellate ganglion blockade with local anesthetic versus saline placebo within one week of surgery or during hospitalization if discharged prior to one week. Specific Aim 3: Determine the success rate of the block as evaluated by ipsilateral hand temperature change and skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA).

Interventions

PROCEDUREStellate ganglion block

Ultrasound guided injection into the stellate ganglion performed in the right side of the neck in a sterile fashion.

DRUGBupivacaine

10 mL of 0.5% without epinephrine injected in the plane of the right stellate ganglion

DRUGPlacebo

10 mL of saline injected in the plane of the right stellate ganglion

Sponsors

Mayo Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patient presenting for cardiac surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. * Patients scheduled to undergo mitral or aortic valve surgery with or without coronary artery bypass grafting.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with a history of permanent atrial fibrillation, left or right ventricular assist device implantation or explantation. * Patients with procedures not requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. * Patients with procedures requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. * Patients with active infection or sepsis. * Pre-operative immunosuppressive medication use (including steroid use). * Pre-operative anti-arrhythmic medication use (aside from beta-blockers). * Patients with Immunodeficiency syndrome. * Patients with known neurologic disorder. * Patients requiring left internal jugular central line placement. * Performance of Maze procedures or left atrial appendage ligation procedures will not exclude patients from potential enrollment as atrial fibrillation still occurs postoperatively while the scarring from the Maze procedure forms.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of atrial fibrillationWithin one week of surgery or during hospitalization if discharged prior to one weekPercentage of subjects to experience postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Duration of atrial fibrillationWithin one week of surgery or during hospitalization if discharged prior to one weekDuration of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF)
Skin Sympathetic Nerve Activity10-30 minute following performance of nerve blockMeasurement of difference in skin sympathetic nerve activity following block

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORErica Wittwer, MD

Mayo Clinic

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jul 11, 2026