• Sean W Mulvaney, James H Lynch, Jason de Leeuw, Matthew Schroeder, and Shawn Kane.
• Consortium for Health and Military Performance, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
• Mil Med. 2015 May 1; 180 (5): e601-4.

ObjectiveTo measure key neurocognitive performance effects following stellate ganglion block (SGB) administered to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.MethodsEleven patients diagnosed, screened, and scheduled for SGB to treat their PTSD symptoms were administered a panel of eight cognitive measures before and 1 to 3 weeks after undergoing this procedure. PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military.ResultsOne to three weeks post-SGB, none of the patients showed any statistically significant decline in neurocognitive performance. Rather, there was a clear trend in improvement, with four out of eight measures reaching statistical significance following SGB. All patients improved in PTSD symptoms with a mean improvement on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military of 29.ConclusionIn this case series of 11 patients, SGB effectively treated PTSD symptoms and did not impair reaction time, memory, or concentration. Therefore, SGB should be considered as a viable treatment option for personnel with PTSD symptoms who will be placed in demanding conditions such as combat.Reprint & Copyright © 2015 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

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