Pretreatment with stellate ganglion blockade before ischemia reduces infarct size in rat hearts

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) in cardio-protection against ischemia reperfusion injury.

METHODS: This prospective randomized, experimental study was carried out between August and October 2008 in the Department of Anesthesia, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey. Twenty-one rats were randomly divided into 3 groups; group 1 - SGB group (rats with percutaneous ganglion blockade), group 2 - preconditioned (P) group (rats that were subjected to ischemia and then reperfusion periods for 5 minutes), and group 3 - control group (rats that were injected with normal saline).

RESULTS: During the ligation period, the length of arrhythmia was significantly shorter in group 2 compared with group 3 (p<0.001). The arrhythmia score in groups 1 and 2 was significantly lower compared with group 3 (p<0.001). In the reperfusion period, the length of arrhythmia was not significantly different in all study groups (p>0.05). But the arrhythmia score was significantly lower both in group 1 and group 3, compared with group 2 (p<0.02). Both in the ischemic and reperfusion periods, the incidence of arrhythmia was lowest in group 1. The infarct size was measured significantly less in groups 1 and 2 compared with group 3 (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with the left SGB leads to lower arrhythmia scores and reduced infarct size in the Langendorff-perfused rat hearts compared with group 3, but not with group 2.