Pilot Study of Stellate Ganglion Injection to Provide Relief From Hot Flushes

Northwestern University40 enrolled

Overview

This study is being done to determine whether stellate ganglion injection with local anesthetic (the study procedure) can reduce the number and severity of hot flashes in women who have hot flashes. Hot flashes can have a significant impact on daily living, disrupt sleep, and lead to fatigue and irritability during the day. Hot flashes are the most common reason that women seek hormonal therapy. However, for many women, including breast cancer survivors, this is rarely an option, and these women seek alternatives to hormonal therapy to treat hot flashes. The study procedure has been in clinical use for more than fifty years in treating certain disease states and chronic pain. The study procedure has not been used to relieve hot flashes and the use of the study procedure with local anesthetic for the reduction of hot flushes is considered experimental.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Hot Flashes Menopause

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 30 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Women surgically or naturally menopausal, * Experiencing moderate to severe hot flushes, AND * Elect to undergo stellate ganglion block procedure. Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects who are currently sick, * Subjects have acute infections or cardiac compromise, * Subjects who have local infections of the anterior neck region, severe * Subjects who have pulmonary disease, * Subjects who are anticoagulated, * Subjects who are on hormone therapy, * Subjects who have a blood clotting disorder, * Subjects who have an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status score of 3 or higher (severe systemic disease, not incapacitating), * Subjects who have allergic reactions to local anesthetics and/or contrast dyes, * Subjects who have past or present diagnosis of psychosis, * Subjects who have current diagnosis of depression, OR * Subjects who have current substance or alcohol abuse.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Reduction of hot flushes.

Time frame: 6 months

Secondary Outcomes

To investigate the impact of stellate ganglion injection with local anesthetic on cognitive function.

Time frame: 3 months