Electric sympathetic block: current theoretical concepts and clinical results

Schwartz, Robert G.

doi:10.3233/bmr-1998-10105

Cited by 2 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…In addition, we could not compare the application dosage among the four PAMs because different energy forms produce different physiological effects (i.e., therapeutic US generates mechanical vibration energy producing diathermal and nonthermal effects, including cavitation, acoustic streaming, and microstreaming; therapeutic light generates photon energy initiating photobiomodulation effects or athermic photochemical reactions; and therapeutic electricity generates electrical energy inducing electrochemical effects) and energy in different forms penetrates through the skin and into tissues through its specific transdermal pathway of conductance and transformation (i.e., mechanical vibration energy is transdermally conducted through a coupling medium; photon energy is transmitted directly through absorption and indirectly through refraction, dispersion, and reflection; and electric current is delivered by the electric charge flow or by driving charged particles), with varying permeability into deep tissues [39, 104]. However, a high treatment efficacy can be achieved using high doses of energy emitted from the PAMs [105].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In patients with neuropathic pain syndromes, the effects of SGB performed using light irradiation were similar to those of conventional intensive SGB, including improved blood flow through vasodilation and reduced pain by direct blockade of the afferent nociceptive signals traveling through sympathetic pathways [31, 33, 35–38]. Moreover, the effects of SGB performed using TENS [39–41] and therapeutic US [41, 42] were similar. Compared with the conventional nerve blockade technique, noninvasive SGB is free from potential complications such as infection, bleeding, potential nerve damage, and other adverse events that may be caused by an injective or a puncture injury following repeated applications [19–29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Compared with the conventional nerve blockade technique, noninvasive SGB is free from potential complications such as infection, bleeding, potential nerve damage, and other adverse events that may be caused by an injective or a puncture injury following repeated applications [19–29]. Moreover, noninvasive SGB can be conveniently performed in clinical practice even in the absence of an anesthesiologist and is well tolerated by patients without any thermal injury or with few adverse effects [31, 39, 40, 43–56], regardless of the application modality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Efficacy of Noninvasive Stellate Ganglion Blockade Performed Using Physical Agent Modalities in Patients with Sympathetic Hyperactivity-Associated Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2016

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BackgroundStellate ganglion blockade (SGB) is mainly used to relieve symptoms of neuropathic pain in conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome and has several potential complications. Noninvasive SGB performed using physical agent modalities (PAMs), such as light irradiation and electrical stimulation, can be clinically used as an alternative to conventional invasive SGB. However, its application protocols vary and its clinical efficacy remains controversial. This study investigated the use of noninvasive SGB for managing neuropathic pain or other disorders associated with sympathetic hyperactivity.Materials and MethodsWe performed a comprehensive search of the following online databases: Medline, PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, Cochrane Library Database, Ovid MEDLINE, Europe PubMed Central, EBSCOhost Research Databases, CINAHL, ProQuest Research Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, WorldWideScience, BIOSIS, and Google Scholar. We identified and included quasi-randomized or randomized controlled trials reporting the efficacy of SGB performed using therapeutic ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, light irradiation using low-level laser therapy, or xenon light or linearly polarized near-infrared light irradiation near or over the stellate ganglion region in treating complex regional pain syndrome or disorders requiring sympatholytic management. The included articles were subjected to a meta-analysis and risk of bias assessment.ResultsNine randomized and four quasi-randomized controlled trials were included. Eleven trials had good methodological quality with a Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) score of ≥6, whereas the remaining two trials had a PEDro score of <6. The meta-analysis results revealed that the efficacy of noninvasive SGB on 100-mm visual analog pain score is higher than that of a placebo or active control (weighted mean difference, −21.59 mm; 95% CI, −34.25, −8.94; p = 0.0008).ConclusionsNoninvasive SGB performed using PAMs effectively relieves pain of various etiologies, making it a valuable addition to the contemporary pain management armamentarium. However, this evidence is limited by the potential risk of bias.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Efficacy of Noninvasive Stellate Ganglion Blockade Performed Using Physical Agent Modalities in Patients with Sympathetic Hyperactivity-Associated Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2016

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“…One theoret- Table 3. Effects of electronic signal energy as it applies to antiinflammatory activity (27).…”

Section: Discussion Of the Anti-inflammatory Effects Of Estmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The following therapeutically beneficial primary and secondary effects of EST would apply specifically in the anti-inflammatory actions of EST: dilution of toxic substances that cause pain and inflammation; pH normalization; increased tissue metabolism; and improved exchange between intracapillary and interstitial fluid, which in turn results in an improvement of tissue absorption (26). Table 3 lists the primary and secondary effects of electronic signal energy as it applies to its anti-inflammatory activity (27).…”

Section: Overview Of How Electric Signals May Be More Physiologicallymentioning

confidence: 99%

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Electronic Signal Treatment

Odell

2008

Pain Phys

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Inflammation often plays a key role in the perpetuation of pain. Chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis, immune system dysfunction, micro-circulatory disease, painful neuritis, and even heart disease) have increased as baby boomers age. Medicine’s current antiinflammatory choices are NSAIDs and steroids; the value in promoting cure and side effect risks of these medications are unclear and controversial, especially considering individual patient variations. Electricity has continuously been a powerful tool in medicine for thousands of years. All medical professionals are, to some degree, aware of electrotherapy; those who directly use electricity for treatment know of its anti-inflammatory effects. Electronic signal treatment (EST), as an extension of presently available technology, may reasonably have even more anti-inflammatory effects. EST is a digitally produced alternating current sinusoidal electronic signal with associated harmonics to produce theoretically reasonable and/or scientifically documented physiological effects when applied to the human body. These signals are produced by advanced electronics not possible even 10 to 15 years ago. The potential long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects of some electrical currents are based on basic physical and biochemical facts listed in the text below, namely that of stimulating and signaling effective and long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects in nerve and muscle cells. The safety of electrotherapeutic treatments in general and EST in particular has been established through extensive clinical use. The principles of physics have been largely de-emphasized in modern medicine in favor of chemistry. These electrical treatments, a familiar application of physics, thus represent powerful and appropriate elements of physicians’ pain care armamentaria in the clinic and possibly for prescription for use at home to improve overall patient care and maintenance of quality of life via low-risk and potentially curative treatments. Key words: Electroanalgesia, electronic signal treatment (EST), inflammation, anti-inflammatory effects, immune system, neurogenic inflammation, chronic pain, steroids, NSAIDs, oscillo/torsional effect, cAMP, membrane repair and stabilization, pain care/management

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Electric sympathetic block: current theoretical concepts and clinical results

Cited by 2 publications

References 33 publications

Efficacy of Noninvasive Stellate Ganglion Blockade Performed Using Physical Agent Modalities in Patients with Sympathetic Hyperactivity-Associated Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Efficacy of Noninvasive Stellate Ganglion Blockade Performed Using Physical Agent Modalities in Patients with Sympathetic Hyperactivity-Associated Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Electronic Signal Treatment

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