Subfascial versus extrafascial ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block in patients with post-mastectomy sympathetically mediated pain: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Despite being a well-described intervention, the optimal anatomical approach to perform a stellate ganglion block (SGB) has been disputed. We compared the subfascial and extrafascial ultrasound-guided (USG) SGB.

Methods: A randomised clinical trial was conducted, consisting of 50 patients in two groups. Group I received SGB via the subfascial approach while Group II received an SGB via the extrafascial approach. The primary endpoint was successful sympathetic blockade (as indicated by a measured temperature rise of ≥2°C). Secondary endpoints included analgesic efficiency (extent of early onset of pain relief as indicated by >50% improvement in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at 300's post-procedure); occurrence of Horner's syndrome; extent of local anaesthetic distribution; and adverse events.

Results: The mean increase in sympathetic blockade was significantly higher in the subfascial group (2.6 ± 0.6°C; p = .003). Analgesic efficacy was also significantly higher in the subfascial group (p < .001). The difference in the average dermatomal spread of local anaesthetic down to T2 and up to C4 between the groups was also statistically significant (p = .021 and p = .019, respectively).

Conclusions: The degree of temperature rise, pain relief and occurrence of Horner's syndrome were higher in the subfascial than the extrafascial group. The subfascial approach to SGB, with a limited volume of local anaesthetic agent, is a more reliable technique when compared to the extrafascial approach.