Editor-in-Chief: Alaa Abd-Elsayed, MD, PhD
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BACKGROUND: Stellate ganglion block is an option for refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Approaches include using anatomical landmarks or image-guidance with fluoroscopy, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or ultrasonography.
CASE REPORT: We describe a case of a 70-year-old man with multiple comorbidities presenting with sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) who received a cervical sympathetic chain block at bedside. This resulted in ablation of his refractory VT and return to a paced rhythm, allowing him to be discharged from the intensive care unit.
CONCLUSION: This case shows the advantages of targeting the cervical sympathetic chain to block the stellate ganglion in a high-risk patient. Doing the procedure under ultrasound guidance allows for real-time visualization with the advantage of being performed at the bedside. Therefore, a cervical sympathetic chain block should be considered for treatment of refractory ventricular arrhythmias.
KEY WORDS: Cervical sympathetic chain, refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmia, stellate ganglion block, ultrasound guidance
