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The successful use of bilateral 2-level ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block to improve traumatic brain injury symptoms
A retrospective analysis of 23 patients
Mulvaney, S. W., Lynch, J. H., Olmsted, K. L. R., Mahadevan, S., & Dineen, K. J. (2024). The successful use of bilateral 2-level ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block to improve traumatic brain injury symptoms: A retrospective analysis of 23 patients. Military Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usae193
Purpose The purpose of the study was to determine whether performing ultrasound-guided, bilateral stellate ganglion blocks (SGBs; performed on subsequent days) improved traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms.Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for the time period between August 2022 and February 2023 to identify patients who received bilateral, 2-level (C6 and C4) SGBs for PTSD symptoms but who also had a history of TBI. Neurobehavioral Symptoms Inventory (NSI) scores were collected at baseline, 1 week, and 1 month post-treatment in 14 males and 9 females.Results Out of 23 patients, 22 showed improvement in their NSI scores. NSI baseline average score was 42.7; the average score at 1 week post-treatment was 18.8; 1 month post-treatment was 20.1. This represents a 53% improvement in the NSI score between baseline and 1 month.Conclusion The use of bilateral, 2-level SGBs may be indicated in treating patients with PTSD symptoms with concomitant diagnoses of mild-to-moderate TBI.
