Effect of the Stellate Ganglion Block on the Retinal Microcirculation

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: OCTA, Severe Brain Injury, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Intracerebral Hemorrhage

In brief

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).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06797752

Run by

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

People needed

50

Starts

2024-10-07

Expected to finish

2026-10-07

Last updated by the study team

2025-11-19

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 18 years or older
• Patients receiving the stellate ganglion nerve block for an approved indication, e.g. complex regional pain syndrome

You may not qualify if…

• Pregnancy
• Non-English speaking
• Temporary or permanent physical limitation that renders the patient unable to sit up and look inside OCTA device

Where it is running

• UT Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, Texas, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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