Korean J Anesthesiol.
1978 Sep;11(3):250-256.
Treatment of Bell's Palsy by Stellate Ganglion Block
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Anesthesiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Bell's palsy is not a serious disease and recovery is spontaneous in more than half of patients, but this recovery is long delayed in many instances and the cosmetic effect of altered facial appearance is psychologically distressing. Etiology is unknown, but Kettles ischemic hypothesis has been widely accepted. The aim of treatment is to reduce edema and improve circulation to the facial nerve. Stellate ganglion block resulted in abolishing cerebral vascular spasm and in increasing cerebral blood flow. Thus stellate ganglion block is effective in treatment of Bell's palsy. Five patients with idiopathic complete Bells palsy of recent origin were treated by homolateral stellate ganglion block with 1% lidocaine and excellent effects resulted. These cases were reported and the literature reviewed.