Faculty Collaboration Database

Stellate ganglion local anesthetic blockade and neurolysis for the treatment of refractory ventricular fibrillation. A A Case Rep 2015 Mar 01;4(5):49-51

Date

03/03/2015

Pubmed ID

25730409

DOI

10.1213/XAA.0000000000000124

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84938904791 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

Electrical storm (ES) is a syndrome characterized by recurrent ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia. It is a major clinical challenge and is often unresponsive to conventional drug therapy; instead, its treatment requires multiple attempts at electrical defibrillation. Sympathetic hyperactivity is an important modulator of ventricular arrhythmias, including ES. We report a case of ES treated safely and effectively with pharmacologic sympathectomy involving diagnostic continuous stellate ganglion blockade with local anesthetic followed by therapeutic neurolysis. This technique reduced ES in a patient for whom conservative medical and interventional procedures were ineffective.

Author List

Hulata DF, Le-Wendling L, Boezaart AP, Hurley RW

Author

Robert W. Hurley MD, PhD Adjunct Professor of Anesthesiology and CTSI in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Anesthetics, Local
Autonomic Nerve Block
Electric Countershock
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Stellate Ganglion
Sympathectomy
Ventricular Fibrillation