Effect of the Stellate Ganglion Block on the Retinal Microcirculation

NCT ID: NCT06797752

Last Updated: 2025-11-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 50 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-10-07
• Study Completion Date: 2026-10-07

Brief Summary

Surges in the sympathetic nervous system occur at the ictus of a variety of neurological critical illnesses including intracranial hemorrhage and ischemic stroke. It is hypothesized that these exaggerated increases in sympathetic nervous activity produce maladaptations that promote secondary brain injury. One of these possible mechanisms include diffuse vasospasm that cause cerebral ischemia. Hence, methods to abrogate the sympathetic nervous system in this context are under active investigation. One possible method is the regional anesthesia technique of the stellate ganglion nerve block, which is ordinarily used for complex regional pain syndrome, but has been shown to reduce cerebral sympathetic activity and reduces vasospasm in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, its effect on the microcirculation is not clear. Hence, we propose to study patients receiving the stellate ganglion nerve block as part of their standard medical care and to image their retinal microcirculation before and after the procedure using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA).

Conditions

OCTA; Severe Brain Injury; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_ONLY
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Intervention Group

Patients receiving the stellate ganglion block

OCTA Scan

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography before and after receiving the stellate ganglion nerve block.

Interventions

OCTA Scan

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography before and after receiving the stellate ganglion nerve block.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18 years or older
• Patients receiving the stellate ganglion nerve block for an approved indication, e.g. complex regional pain syndrome

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy
• Non-English speaking
• Temporary or permanent physical limitation that renders the patient unable to sit up and look inside OCTA device

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Noah Jouett

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Noah Jouett, DO, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Locations

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, Texas, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Noah Jouett, DO, PhD

Role: CONTACT

noah.jouett@utsouthwestern.edu

214-645-7011

Facility Contacts

Noah Jouett, DO, PhD

Role: primary

noah.jouett@utsouthwestern.edu

214-645-7011

References

Patton N, Aslam T, Macgillivray T, Pattie A, Deary IJ, Dhillon B. Retinal vascular image analysis as a potential screening tool for cerebrovascular disease: a rationale based on homology between cerebral and retinal microvasculatures. J Anat. 2005 Apr;206(4):319-48. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2005.00395.x.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 15817102 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

STU-2024-1027

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id