@article{ref1,
title="Stellate Ganglion Block Used to Treat Symptoms Associated With Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Series of 166 Patients",
journal="Military medicine",
year="2014",
author="Mulvaney, Sean W. and Lynch, James H. and Hickey, Matthew J. and Rahman-Rawlins, Tabassum and Schroeder, Matthew and Kane, Shawn and Lipov, Eugene",
volume="179",
number="10",
pages="1133-1140",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Report the successful use of stellate ganglion blocks (SGBs) in 166 active duty service members with multiple combat deployments experiencing anxiety symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). <br><br>BACKGROUND: Successful treatment of PTSD symptoms with SGB has been reported previously. This is the largest published case series evaluating SGB with a minimum of 3 months follow-up. <br><br>METHODS: Following clinical interview including administration of the PTSD Checklist (PCL), 166 service members with symptoms of PTSD elected to receive a SGB. All patients received a SGB on the right side at the level of the sixth cervical vertebrae (C6). The PCL was administered the day before treatment to establish a baseline, repeated 1 week later, and then monthly out to 3 months. A positive response was considered to be an improvement in the PCL score by 10 or greater points. Follow-up PCL scores from 3 to 6 months were obtained and analyzed for 166 patients. <br><br>RESULTS: In a military population with multiple combat deployments, over 70% of the patients treated had a clinically significant improvement in their PCL score which persisted beyond 3 to 6 months postprocedure. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Selective blockade of the right cervical sympathetic chain at the C6 level is a safe and minimally invasive procedure that may provide durable relief from anxiety symptoms associated with PTSD.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0026-4075",
doi="10.7205/MILMED-D-14-00151",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-14-00151"
}