Journal of anesthesia
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Journal of anesthesia · Aug 2016
The effect of superior cervical ganglion resection on peripheral facial palsy in rats.
Stellate ganglion block is performed to treat peripheral facial palsy because it increases blood flow and promotes nerve regeneration. Although stellate ganglion block increases blood flow around the facial nerve that runs outside the temporal bone, it may not affect blood flow inside the bone. Therefore, although stellate ganglion block is an effective procedure when the facial nerve is damaged outside the temporal bone, no studies have investigated the relationship between the site of nerve damage and the therapeutic effect of stellate ganglion block. Here, we investigated the efficacy of stellate ganglion block for facial palsy caused by facial nerve damage both inside and outside the temporal bone in rats. ⋯ Stellate ganglion block was more effective in facial palsy caused by damage to the facial nerve outside, rather than inside, the temporal bone.