Effect of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block on lung protection for patients undergoing one-lung ventilation

Objective: To explore the potential effect of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block (SGB) on lung protection for patients undergoing one-lung ventilation (OLV). Methods: A total of 123 patients undergoing elective one-lung ventilation surgery were selected as research subjects in this prospective study. These patients were randomly divided into the SGB group, control group and blank group on average. Stellate ganglion block was carried out in the SGB and control groups. Patients in the SGB group were injected with 6 ml mixture of 0.25% ropivacaine hydrochloride and 1% lidocaine hydrochloride, while those in the control group were injected with 6 mL of 0.9% sa-line. Punctures weren't performed for patients in the blank group. The same induction and maintenance of general anesthesia was adopted for all three groups. Hemodynamics, respiratory parameters and arterial blood gas analysis were recorded after entering the operation room (T0), pre-OLV (T1), 30 min after OLV (T2), 60 min after OLV (T3), at the end of surgery (T4), and 30 min after extubation (T5). Oxygenation index (OI), pulmonary shunt fraction (Qs/ Qt) and pH value were compared at different time points. Intravenous serum was collected at T0, T3 and T5 for the detection of surfactant proteins A (SP-A), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels, respectively. The complications related to SGB after surgery and the postoperative pulmonary complications within 72 h were recorded. Results: At T1, T2, and T3, MAP level in SGB group was lower than that in blank and control groups (P < 0.05). At T2, and T3, SGB group had lower hear rate (HR), peak airway pressure (P-peak) and tidal volume (TV) than blank and control groups (all P < 0.05). From T2 to T5, SGB group had higher OI but lower Qs/Qt than blank and control groups (both P < 0.05). At T3 and T5, SGB group had lower SP-A, IL-6, and MDA levels but higher IL-10 and SOD levels than blank and control groups (all P < 0.05). There was one case of hypoxemia in the blank group within 72 h after surgery. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided SGB has lung-protective effects on patients undergoing OLV, which significantly improves patients' OI, reduces intrapulmonary shunts, de-clines ventilator-induced lung damage, and inhibits inflammatory response as well as oxidative stress (China Clinical Trial Registry, registration number ChiCTR2100053449, https://www.chictr.org.cn).