Targeting postoperative sleep disorders: Current advances and emerging directions in stellate ganglion block therapy.

The stellate ganglion block (SGB) is an extensively utilized regional anesthesia technique, integral to pain management protocols and postoperative analgesia. Its fundamental objective lies in the modulation of sympathetic nervous system activity, thereby facilitating the intricate balance of the autonomic, circulatory, endocrine, and immune systems to preserve homeostatic equilibrium. Postoperative sleep disorders (PSD), characterized by disruptions in sleep quantity and quality subsequent to surgical intervention, manifest as oscillations in the sleep-wake cycle and are indicative of postoperative neurocognitive impairments. Emerging research underscores the efficacy of SGB in mitigating PSD incidence through the targeted regulation of sympathetic ganglionic excitability and the modulation of endocrine and autonomic nervous system functions. This study offers an exhaustive appraisal of the effects of SGB on PSD, delving into the anatomical foundations of the procedure, elucidating its physiological mechanisms, and amalgamating pivotal insights derived from recent scholarly research.