The purpose of this research study is to examine the effect of percutaneous inferior cervical sympathetic block on life threatening abnormal heart rhythms called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation that can lead to sudden cardiac death.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
The procedure will be performed while the patient was awake and under fluoroscopic guidance. A total of 3 ml of 1% lidocaine will be infiltrated to anesthetize the skin and subcutaneous tissues down to the left common carotid artery. A 22 gauge × 3.5 inch BD™ Quincke spinal needle will be introduced at the level of the body of the sixth cervical vertebra, medial to the left common carotid artery. The needle will be advanced until it reached the junction between the body and transverse process of the sixth cervical vertebra. Contrast injection will be used to demonstrate the position of the needle anterior to the paravertebral muscles, with spread along the axis of the interfascial compartment (Figure 1). A total of 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine (Marcaine, Hospira, Lake Forest, IL) will be injected over 10 min through the needle. The effectiveness of sympathetic blockade will be confirmed by postprocedure development of ptosis and miosis in the left eye.
Freedom from implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shock
Zero number of required cardioverter-defibrillator shocks in the patient's medical records
Time frame: 3 months
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