A complication of stellate ganglion block: Convulsion due to vertebral artery injection

Abstract

A sixty-seven year, old man was evaluated, for left shoulder and arm pain. He had undergone a C6-7 discectomy for spinal stenosis sometime ago. As part of the evaluation of the left arm and shoulder pain a thoracic computerized tomography revealed, a paravertebral mass extending from T2 to the cervical region that was felt to be consistant with Pancoast tumour. A diagnostic stellate ganglion block was performed and was complicated by a generalized convulsion following the test dose. In patients with underlying abnormal anatomy either from congenital or aquired causes, in this case prior surgery, increased caution is warranted and fluoroscopic assistance should be considered.