Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of SGB in Preventing Post-op Atrial Fibrillation
Status:
Withdrawn
Trial end date:
2021-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Atrial fibrillation requires both an initiation trigger and favorable environment for
maintenance and the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems play important roles in
this regard. Unfortunately, the precise mechanisms of post operative atrial fibrillation
(POAF) are still being investigated. This postoperative complication has persisted in spite
of efforts to mitigate it pharmacologically with beta blockers and amiodarone, an experience
shared by most other cardiac surgery centers.
The stellate ganglion is formed by the fusion of the inferior cervical sympathetic ganglion
and first thoracic sympathetic ganglion. By modulating the sympathetic component of the
autonomic nervous system, stellate ganglion stimulation has been shown to facilitate
induction of atrial fibrillation while ablation may reduce or prevent episodes. Human studies
have further supported this model.
Preliminary studies of perioperative stellate ganglion block (SGB) in cardiac surgery suggest
that this technique may reduce or prevent episodes of POAF requiring treatment. The
investigator's hypothesis is that SGB reduces the incidence of POAF in cardiac surgery
populations.