Assessment of Diaphragmatic Function After Stellate Ganglion Block

July 22, 2026 updated by: Jose Manuel López González

Diaphragmatic Ultrasound and Spirometry After Ultrasound-guided Stellate Ganglion Block: a Prospective Observational Study

The objective of our study was to evaluate the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis after ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block (US-SGB) by assessing diaphragmatic excursion and diaphragmatic thickening fraction using diaphragm ultrasound.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

A prospective, single-center observational study was designed with the aim of evaluating diaphragmatic excursion and diaphragmatic thickening fraction, measured by ultrasound before and 30 minutes after US-SGB performed with 10 mL of 0.25% levobupivacaíne.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

15

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Spain
    • Principality of Asturias
      • Oviedo, Principality of Asturias, Spain, 33001
        • FINBA

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

After approval of the study by the Principality of Asturias Drug Research Ethics Committee (CEImPA), Spain, and obtaining informed consent from the participants, all consecutive patients undergoing a first diagnostic US-SGB for sympathetic nervous system-mediated disorders were prospectively included.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • patients over 18 years of age.
  • patients with sympathetic nervous system-mediated disorders.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • patients younger than 18 years of age.
  • patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  • previous diaphragmatic paralysis or neuromuscular disease.
  • inability to undergo diaphragmatic ultrasound.
  • patients with neck anatomy considered unsuitable for the procedure (including previous neck surgery, burns, extensive scarring or large goiters resulting in distortion of normal cervical anatomy).
  • contraindications to the interventional technique (such as infection at the puncture site, or refusal to provide consent).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
US-SGB
Patients with sympathetic nervous system-mediated disorders of the upper limb undergoing a first diagnostic ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block (US-SGB).
Procedure: Ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block
US-SGB was performed at the C7 level using 10 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaíne.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Diaphragmatic excursion
Time Frame: The diaphragmatic excursion, assessed by diaphragm ultrasound before and 30 minutes after US-SGB.
Excursion of the diaphragmatic dome was assessed by a pulmonologist experienced in diaphragm ultrasound assessment. Once the dome was identified, excursion was measured in M-mode as the distance, in centimeters, between the end-expiratory and end-inspiratory positions during a vital capacity manoeuvre.
The diaphragmatic excursion, assessed by diaphragm ultrasound before and 30 minutes after US-SGB.
Diaphragmatic thickening fraction
Time Frame: The diaphragmatic thickening, assessed by diaphragm ultrasound before and 30 minutes after US-SGB.

The diaphragmatic thickening fraction was assessed by a pulmonologist experienced in diaphragm ultrasound assessment. Diaphragm thickness was measured, in centimeters, at end-inspiration and end-expiration during a vital capacity manoeuvre. Thickening fraction was calculated using the following formula and expressed as a percentaje:

Thickening fraction = [(thickness at end-inspiration - thickness at end-expiration) / thickness at end-expiration] x 100.
The diaphragmatic thickening, assessed by diaphragm ultrasound before and 30 minutes after US-SGB.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Forced vital capacity (FVC)
Time Frame: Spirometric parameters measured at baseline and 1 hour after US-SGB.
Measure of the maximum exhaled volume of air (in liters, L) after a deep breath, on spirometry performed using a pneumotachograph spirometer.
Spirometric parameters measured at baseline and 1 hour after US-SGB.
Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)
Time Frame: Spirometric parameters measured at baseline and 1 hour after US-SGB.
Measure of the exhaled air volume (in liters, L) in the first second of the spirometry, performed using a pneumotachograph spirometer
Spirometric parameters measured at baseline and 1 hour after US-SGB.
Tiffeneau index (FEV1/FVC ratio)
Time Frame: Spirometric parameters measured at baseline and 1 hour after US-SGB.
Ratio between the aforementioned FEV1 and FVC expressed in percentage (%), derived from the parameters obtained on spirometry.
Spirometric parameters measured at baseline and 1 hour after US-SGB.
Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2)
Time Frame: Measured at baseline and 1 hour after US-SGB.
Peripheral blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) expressed in percentage (%), measured using a digital pulse oximeter.
Measured at baseline and 1 hour after US-SGB.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Jose Manuel López González

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Daniel García Iglesias, MD, PhD, Central University Hospital of Asturias, 33001, Spain

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 10, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 22, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 22, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2024.442

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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