Effect of the Stellate Ganglion Block on the Retinal Microcirculation
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: OCTA Scan.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: OCTA, Severe Brain Injury, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effect of the Stellate Ganglion Block on the Retinal Microcirculation: A Pilot Study
Overview
Surges in the sympathetic nervous system occur at the ictus of a variety of neurological critical illnesses including intracranial hemorrhage and ischemic stroke. It is hypothesized that these exaggerated increases in sympathetic nervous activity produce maladaptations that promote secondary brain injury. One of these possible mechanisms include diffuse vasospasm that cause cerebral ischemia. Hence, methods to abrogate the sympathetic nervous system in this context are under active investigation. One possible method is the regional anesthesia technique of the stellate ganglion nerve block, which is ordinarily used for complex regional pain syndrome, but has been shown to reduce cerebral sympathetic activity and reduces vasospasm in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, its effect on the microcirculation is not clear. Hence, we propose to study patients receiving the stellate ganglion nerve block as part of their standard medical care and to image their retinal microcirculation before and after the procedure using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA).
Interventions
- Device OCTA Scan
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography before and after receiving the stellate ganglion nerve block.
Primary outcome measures
- Vascular and Perfusion Density [Time frame: One day]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age 18 years or older
- Patients receiving the stellate ganglion nerve block for an approved indication, e.g. complex regional pain syndrome
Exclusion criteria
- Pregnancy
- Non-English speaking
- Temporary or permanent physical limitation that renders the patient unable to sit up and look inside OCTA device
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-only
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- UT Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas
Publications
- Patton N, Aslam T, Macgillivray T, Pattie A, Deary IJ, Dhillon B. Retinal vascular image analysis as a potential screening tool for cerebrovascular disease: a rationale based on homology between cerebral and retinal microvasculatures. J Anat. 2005 Apr;206(4):319-48. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2005.00395.x. PMID 15817102
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06797752 · STU-2024-1027