[Changes in symptom and thermography images after lumbar sympathetic ganglion block].

In 35 lower limbs of 22 patients with peripheral circulation disturbance, we evaluated the effects of lumbar sympathetic ganglion block (LSGB) by skin temperature difference (delta T) between the two measured by thermography before and after LSGB. We divided the patients into two groups; ASO group (n = 15): patients with chronic arterial occulusive diseases, and nonASO group (n = 7): those with peripheral circulation disturbance partly due to decrease nervous function. After LSGB, we recognized a significant increase in delta T and remission of ischemic symptoms in all the patients of nonASO group and those in early stage of ASO group. This suggests that in ASO group LSGB should be applied as soon as possible to obtain good outcome, and thermography is useful to evaluate the effects of LSGB in patients with peripheral circulation disturbance of the lower limbs.