2. Cervical sympathetic block
■ Interruption of the sympathetic efferent fibers to the
upper extremity, head, and neck.
Diagnostic Prognostic Therapeutic
3. Cervical sympathetic block
■ Diagnostic :
– To determine if the pain is sympathetically
mediated or not.
■ Prognostic:
– To determine if neurolysis or surgical
sympathectomy could be beneficial
4. ANATOMY
The cervical sympathetic chain -
superior, middle, & inferior cervical
ganglia
80% population, the inferior
cervical ganglion is fused with the
first thoracic ganglion, forming the
CERVICOTHORACIC or the STELLATE
ganglion
chassaignac’s tubercle
5. ANATOMY
■ Oval shaped 2.5 x 1 x 0.5 cm
■ At the level of C7-T1,
anterior to the transverse
process of C7 & 1st rib &
longus coli muscle
■ Nearby structures
the brachial plexus,
spinal nerve roots,
the prevertebral portion
of the vertebral artery
Subclavian artery
Cervical pleura
6. INDICATIONS
■ Most common indication - sympathetically mediated pain
■ Less commonly indications
– VT and electrical storm
– Hyperhidrosis
– Postherpetic neuralgia
– Ménière disease
– Accidental intra arterial injection of intravenous
medications,
– Frost bite
– Angina pectoris
– Hot flashes and
– Posttraumatic stress disorders.
– Raynauds syndrome
9. SURFACE LANDMARK TECHNIQUE
■ C6 Anterior Approach
A successful block is seen by the onset of Horner syndrome with
affected extremity temperature increase greater than 3°F
(typically seen within 3 min)
10. SURFACE LANDMARK TECHNIQUE
Supine position with slight extension of the neck.
Head turned to the opposite side.
Cricoid cartilage is palpated to find the C6 level
Or more specifically, the C6 transverse process
(chassaignac’s tubercle)
Most individuals , tubercle ~ 3-4 cm cephalad to the
sternoclavicular joint at the medial border of the SCM
11. SURFACE LANDMARK
TECHNIQUE
The skin and subcutaneous tissue are pressed firmly
onto the tubercle
Needle advanced in AP direction retracting
Carotid to hit the tubercle
Needle withdrawn 2 mm to to come out of longus
colli muscle
Bupivacaine (0.125-0.5%) or Ropivacaine, 0.2%
1 mL test dose after negative suction 8-10 ml LA
injected with repeated negative aspiration
Monitored for 30 mins for evidence of blockade
12. FLOUROSCOPY GUIDED
■ Landmarks and patient positioning similar to blind
technique
■ Bony delineation better – fluoroscopy
■ Soft tissues including vascular structures -ultrasound
■ Both the C6 transverse process approach and the C7
anterior paratracheal approach can be done
■ Contrast to confirm appropriate needle placement
– Proper facial plane- local spread of contrast
between the tissue planes both cephalad and
caudad.
– Striated appearance – Intramuscular
– Intravascular injection -immediate dissipation of
dye
14. USS GUIDED
C6 transverse process approach
Position & Needle insersion site Similar
Carotid sheath and SCM muscle retracted laterally with
transducer
Pressure is applied with the transducer
reduce the distance between the skin and tubercle
depresses dome of lung to reduce risk of
pneumothorax
The needle is inserted towards to the Chassaignac tubercle,
The needle is then withdrawn 1-2 mm to bring it out of the longus colli muscle while
still staying within the prevertebral fascia.
After negative aspiration, 1-2 mL of local anesthetic can be injected, and spread can
be visualized with ultrasound.
Once confirming that the injection was subfascial, the remaining local anesthetic can
be given.
15. C7 Anterior Approach
■ Nearly identical to the C6 approach.
■ Performed with USG or fluoroscopy - anatomical landmarks are more
difficult to identify because the C7 vertebra has only a vestigial
tubercle that is not readily palpable.
■ Risk of pneumothorax and vertebral artery injury is higher.
■ Advantages
– Needle is closer in proximity to ganglion
– A smaller volume of LA agent with more reliable and consistent
blockade.
– Particularily usefull - failed blockade at the c6 level.
■ An oblique C7 fluoroscopic approach targeting the junction between
the uncinate process and the vertebral body is described in an effort
to decrease those risks.
■ Lateral approach (USG Guided) also described
16. COMPLICATIONS
Recurrent laryngeal
and Phrenic nerve block
Brachial plexus block
Pneumothorax
Generalized seizure
Total spinal anesthesia
Severe hypertension
Paratracheal
Hematoma
17. B/L BLOCK?
■ Better control of electrical storm
■ But not recommended since it causes severe
hypotension
18. ELECTRICAL STORM
■ 3 or more sustained episodes of
■ Ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation or
appropriate ICD shocks
■ Within 24 hours
19.
20. ■ 52 year old male , old anteroseptal myocardial infarction
(MI) with CHB 2 years ago on VVI pacemaker
■ Recurrent VT requiring shocks and admission
■ Admitted for EP study & RF ablation
■ Developed recurrent episodes of VT
■ Ultrasound-guided left sympathetic ganglion block
■ Followed by surgical left cardiac sympathetic
denervation