BACKGROUND: To obtain optimal results with stellate ganglion block, it is necessary to have a precise knowledge of the exact location of the stellate ganglion and its relationship to the upper thoracic and lower cervical ganglia, in the procedure, the landmark is C6 transverse process, and the drugs for sympathetic block is injected into it. METHODS: We attempted to show the correlation between the height and the distance from C6 transverse process to stellate ganglion and T2 sympathetic ganglion, and respective means and standard deviations in 10 cadavers to estimate whether the height can be used as one of the factors to decide injection dosage for stellate ganglion block, or not. RESULTS: The mean of height was 161.20 5.89 cm and the mean of the distance from left C6 transverse process to T2 sympathetic ganglion was 44.88 6.76, the mean of the distance from right C6 transverse process to stellate ganglion was 40.73 7.47 mm, and the correlation coefficient and regression equation were 0.29 and y=0.38 20.55, respectively, the mean of the distance from left C6 transverse process to T2 sympathetic ganglion was 65.02 11.12 mm, and the correlation coefficient and regression equation were 0.75 and y=1.42 164.01, respectively, the mean of the distance from right C6 transverse process to T2 sympathetic ganglion was 61.38 9.20 mm, and the correlation coefficient and regression equation were 0.74 and y=1.16 125.88, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that we can used the height as one of effective factors to decide drug dosage for stellate ganglion block in Korean.
Cadaver ; Ganglia ; Ganglia, Sympathetic* ; Stellate Ganglion*

The origin of sympathetic and sensory nerves innervating heart in the cat was investigated using HRP (Horseradish peroxidase) and WGA-HRP (Wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase) as neuronal tracers. The neural tracers were injected into subepicardial layer and myocardium of the right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle and left ventricle, respectively. Labeled sympathetic neuronal cell bodies were found in superior cervical ganglia, middle cervical ganglia, stellate ganglia and 4th and 5th thoracic ganglia, mainly in middle cervical ganglia and stellate ganglia. Heavier labeled neuronal cell bodies were found in the middle cervical ganglia and stellate ganglia when the neural tracers were injected into left atrium, right ventricle and left ventricle. Labeled sensory neuronal cell bodies were found in nodose ganglia and T1-T6 spinal ganglia, mainly in T1-T5 spinal ganglia. Heavier labeled neuronal cell bodies were found in the nodose ganglia when the neural tracers were injected into left atrium and right ventricle. These results may provide a neuroanatomical data on origin of sensory nerves innervating the heart of the cat.
Animals ; Cats* ; Ganglia ; Ganglia, Sensory ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Heart* ; Horseradish Peroxidase ; Myocardium ; Neurons* ; Nodose Ganglion ; Sensory Receptor Cells ; Stellate Ganglion ; Superior Cervical Ganglion ; Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate*

We present a case of ganglioneuroma arsing from the sympathetic ganglia in the pelvic cavity.
Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Ganglioneuroma*

164 patients with primary hyperhydrosis underwent bilateral upper dorsal “sympathectomy” by percutaneous injection a hot serum. Pretreatment epidemiological data are described. The immediate and late results, as well as the complications and side effects are detailed: For severe cases of hyperhydroisis that cause social, professional and emotional embarassment “sympathectomy” by percutaneous injection of hot serum is a procedure of choice due to good results and minor complications.
Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Sympathectomy

More than 300 patients with palmar hyperhydrosis had been treated by classical upper thoracic sympathectomy at the Department of Neurosurgery in Viet Duc hospital. From 5/1977 to 1/1999, 600 patients were treated by a new technique: a bilateral percutaneous injection of boiling saline into the paravertebral areas containing the upper sympathetic ganglia. An objective reliable criterion of the success of the procedure is arterial criterion of the success of the procedure is arterial vasodilatation in the upper limb, evidenced by pre and postoperative DOPPLER effects and accompanied by dryness of the hands. Good results were obtained in 71% of the patients, bad results in 18% and relapse in 11%. Two major complications were Horner’s syndrome and compensatory hyperhydrosis. The results show that non-surgical sympathectomy has nearly the same results than that of open sympathectomy, with the advantages of greater simplicity and lower cost.
Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Sympathectomy

From Nov, 2000 to Nov, 2001, 52 thoracic sympathetectomy were operated by endoscopic Electro-coagulation in Surgical Dep. of Bach Mai hospital. They included 51 palmer hyperhydrosis and 1 pain due to chronic pancreatitis calculi. The good result reached 96% with no severe complications, only 1 hemothorax and 2 pneumothorax. The mean value of duration of treatment was 4.3 days.
Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Sympathectomy

Facial hyperhidrosis has a symptom of excessive sweating on the face with or without underlying disease. It can be surgically treated by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). We encountered three cases of facial hyperhidrosis which we treated by VATS, which was performed by resection of the lower third of stellate ganglion and T2-T3 sympathetic ganglia with chains. Postoperative symptom was improved in all cases. There were no postoperative complications such as Horner's syndrome or postsympathectomy neuralgia.
Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Horner Syndrome ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Neuralgia ; Postoperative Complications ; Stellate Ganglion ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy* ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

The localizations of efferent and afferent neurons were observed following injection of neural tracers, cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) and wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the rat thymus with ages. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were examined at 3 weeks, 5~6 and 20 months of age. After survival times of 48~96 hours following injection of neural tracers, the rats were perfused and their brain, spinal cord, sympathetic ganglia, dorsal root ganglia and vagal ganglia were frozen sectioned (40 mm). These sections were stained by CTB immunohistochemical and HRP histochemical staining methods, and observed with polarized dark and light microscope. The results were as follows: 1. WGA-HRP and CTB labeled parasympathetic neurons were bilaterally seen in the nucleus ambiguus and medullary reticular formation of medulla with all ages. 2. WGA-HRP labeled sympathetic neurons were bilaterally labeled in superior cervical ganglia, middle cervical ganglia, stellate ganglia and T4-8 sympathetic chain ganglia. The number of labeled sympathetic neurons was increased in the thymus at 20 months of age. According to the aging, sympathetic neuronal processes were more developed, and the nerve fibers were coarse and more branched. 3. WGA-HRP labeled sensory neurons were bilaterally observed within the vagal and C1-6 dorsal root ganglia. The number of labeled sensory neurons was decreased in the thymus at 20 months of age.
Aging ; Animals ; Brain ; Cholera Toxin ; Ganglia ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Nerve Fibers ; Neurons ; Neurons, Afferent* ; Peroxidase ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reticular Formation ; Sensory Receptor Cells ; Spinal Cord ; Stellate Ganglion ; Superior Cervical Ganglion ; Thymus Gland* ; Triticum ; Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate

Orofacial pain is a common complaint of patients that causes distress and compromises the quality of life. It has many etiologies including trauma, interventional procedures, nerve injury, varicella-zoster (shingles), tumor, and vascular and idiopathic factors. It has been demonstrated that the sympathetic nervous system is usually involved in various orofacial pain disorders such as postherpetic neuralgia, complex regional pain syndromes, and atypical facial pain. The stellate sympathetic ganglion innervates the head, neck, and upper extremity. In this review article, the effect of stellate ganglion block and its mechanism of action in orofacial pain disorders are discussed.
Complex Regional Pain Syndromes ; Facial Pain* ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Quality of Life ; Stellate Ganglion* ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; Upper Extremity

Herpes zoster represents the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus located in the dorsal root ganglion. The virus multiplies and migrates to the skin surface producing a characteristic, usually painful, pustular eruption. Severe pain during the acute phase of herpes zoster has been associated with a higher risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia. Sympathetic ganglion block and somatic nerve block have been used for patients in the acute phase of herpes zoster to alleviate pain and prevent postherpetic neuralgia. Sympathetic nerve block appears to achieve these goals by blocking the profound sympathetic stimulation that is a result of the viral inflammation of the nerve and ganglion. However, they require repeated local anesthetic injections to relieve the symptoms of acute herpes zoster as well as to prevent the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia. Pulsed radiofrequency has been proposed as safe, nondestructive treatment method. We present a case of acute herpes zoster that was managed with pulsed radiofrequency treatment. The results were satisfactory.
Autonomic Nerve Block ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Ganglion Cysts ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Nerve Block ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment ; Skin ; Stellate Ganglion*