| Chemical Lumbar Sympathetic Block: Comparison of One- Versus Two-needle Techniques. |
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Chul Jun Mun, Kyu Jong Lee, Sang Gon Lee, Jong Il Kim, Jong Suk Ban, Byung Woo Min |
1Department of Anesthesiology, Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
2Kim Jong Il Pain Clinic, Daegu, Korea. |
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| Abstract |
BACKGROUND
It was frequently noticed in the course of performing a two-needle sympathectomy, that satisfactory spread of contrast solution could be produced by injection through only one of the needles. This led to a closer examination of the merits of single-needle technique.
METHODS
Forty patients were randomized into two groups.
Patients in the single-needle group (n = 20) were injected at the second or third lumbar sympathetic ganglia, while patients in the two-needle group (n = 20) were injected at the second and third lumbar sympathetic ganglia. Lumbar sympathetic blocks were performed using 3 ml of alcohol and the spread of injectate was verified with C-arm fluoroscopy.
The indicators of a successful sympathetic block are increasing skin temperature, decreasing pain, and anhidrosis in the distal extremity.
RESULTS
The duration of anhidrosis was 12.2 2.6 months (mean SD) in the single-needle group versus 13.6 3.6 months (mean SD) in the two-needle group.
CONCLUSIONS
As these results were not significantly different from those obtained in patients having a two-needle sympathectomy, blockade of the single-needle technique under C-arm fluoroscopy is considered to be effective for a neurolytic lumbar sympathectomy. |
| Key Words:
alcohol; lumbar sympathetic block |
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