The effects of combined sympathetic block and intravascular infusion of prostaglandin E1 on brachial arterial blood flow in dogs.

Abstract

We compared the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) with those of SGB combined with an intravascular infusion of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on brachial arterial blood flow (BABF) in 24 mongrel dogs. The experimental protocol was designed so that the dogs received one of the following: SGB with 0.5% mepivacaine 1.0 mL (n = 8); combined SGB and IV infusion of PGE1 at a rate of 150 ng x kg(-1) x min(-1) for 10 min (n = 8); or combined SGB and intraarterial (IA) infusion of PGE1 at a rate of 0.1 ng x kg(-1) x min(-1) for 10 min (n = 8). BABF increased significantly in all groups and reached a maximum of 67% 10 min after SGB, 124% with the combined SGB and IV infusion of PGE1, and 117% with the combined SGB and IA infusion of PGE1. We conclude that combined SGB and IV or IA infusion of PGE1 increases BABF significantly compared with SGB alone. Combined stellate ganglion block and intraarterial or IV infusion of prostaglandin E1 increases brachial arterial blood flow significantly compared with stellate ganglion block alone.