Stellate ganglion block catheter for paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity: calming the 'neuro-storm'.

Lee, Man-Cheung; Bartuska, Andrew; Chen, Jeffrey; Kim, Richard K; Jaradeh, Safwan; Mihm, Fred · Reg Anesth Pain Med · 2023

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) is an autonomic disorder affecting patients with severe acquired brain injury characterized by intermittent sympathetic discharges with limited therapeutic options. We hypothesized that the PSH pathophysiology could be interrupted via stellate ganglion blockade (SGB). A patient with PSH after midbrain hemorrhage followed by hydrocephalus obtained near-complete resolution of sympathetic events for 140 days after SGB. SGB is a promising therapy for PSH, overcoming the limitations of systemic medications and may serve to recalibrate aberrant autonomic states.

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