[Influence of stellate ganglion block on bilateral cervicobrachial arterial and venous blood flow].

This study was designed to investigate the influence of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on cervicobrachial arterial and venous blood flow in 12 mongrel dogs. Following general anesthesia, the animals were mechanically ventilated to maintain a constant PaCO2 (35-40 mmHg). After thoracotomy, each dog was given SGB with 0.5% mepivacaine 1.0 ml. In six dogs we measured bilateral common carotid arterial blood flows (CCAF) and external jugular venous blood flows (EJVF), and in other six dogs we measured bilateral brachial arterial blood flows (BAF) and brachial venous blood flows (BVF) before and after SGB by using an ultrasonic transit time flowmeter. CCAF and EJVF in the blocked side and contra-lateral EJVF increased significantly but contra-lateral CCAF decreased significantly after SGB. BAF and BVF in the blocked side increased significantly and contra-lateral BAF and BVF decreased significantly after SGB. The results suggest that increased arterial blood flow in the blocked side after SGB is due to vasodilatation by sympathetic block and that contra-lateral arterial blood flow decreases by the ensuing lending-borrowing phenomenon. Increased venous blood flow in the blocked side after SGB is probably due to vasodilatation by sympathetic block and passive increase of blood flow from increased arterial blood flow. Contra-lateral increased EJVF may also be due to passive increase from arterial blood flow of the blocked side.