Unusual case of contralateral Horner's syndrome following stellate-ganglion block: a case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Local and regional anesthesia Vol. 6; no. default; pp. 31 - 33
• Main Authors: Amhaz, Hassan H, Manders, Larry, Chidiac, Elie J, Pallekonda, Vinay, Chakrabortty, Shushovan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01-01-2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Case Report; Case reports; Case studies; Diagnosis; Horner's syndrome; United States; regional anesthesia; complex regional pain syndrome; sympathetic ganglia
• ISSN: 1178-7112; 1178-7112
• DOI: 10.2147/LRA.S49580

Stellate-ganglion block (SGB) is a commonly performed procedure for the treatment of numerous conditions, including upper-extremity complex regional pain syndromes and arterial insufficiency. The appropriate response to SGB includes ipsilateral Horner's syndrome and temperature elevation of affected extremity. Contralateral and bilateral Horner's syndrome following SGB are rarely seen, with only six prior cases reported. We describe a case of a 47-year-old female with right-hand pain secondary to Raynaud's phenomenon who underwent SGB with subsequent contralateral Horner's syndrome and review the literature of this rare phenomenon.