Ultrasound Guided Stellate Ganglion Block in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome: A Randomized Double Blind Sham Placebo-controlled Pilot Study
Stanford University
Summary
This single-center study aims to evaluate both immediate and long-term outcomes of stellate ganglion block (SGB) in a cohort of rigorously phenotyped patients with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). By assessing the effects of SGB, this study seeks to determine its viability as an intervention for symptom control in POTS.
Description
Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a heterogeneous condition affecting approximately 0.2% of the global population, predominantly young women of childbearing age. It is characterized by significant functional impairment and a constellation of symptoms, including lightheadedness, cognitive dysfunction, blurred vision, irritability, palpitations, and chest discomfort, which occur upon standing and improve when lying down. Although current pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments alleviate symptoms for some patients, many remain significantly disabled. These challenges highlight th…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients (\>18 years of age) diagnosed with POTS * Ability to provide informed consent * Ability to comply with 3 follow up visits * English speaking and capable of signing informed consent and complying with protocol requirements Exclusion Criteria: * Allergy to local anesthetics * Severe coagulopathy * History of or currently being treated for clinically significant ongoing cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, myocarditis, pulmonary embolism requiring anticoagulation, pulmonary fibrosis or other pulmonary diagnosis that in the investigator's opinion may contribut…
Interventions
- ProcedureStellate ganglion block
Patients will receive a SGB
- ProcedureSham injection of saline
Patients will receive a subcutaneous sham injection of saline
- DrugRopivacaine
The SGB group will receive ropivacaine 0.5% 10ml
- DrugNormal saline
The control group will receive normal saline in the sham injection.
Locations (2)
- Stanford University School of MedicineStanford, California
- Stanford UniversityStanford, California