complications of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block in patients suffering from chronic pain

background and aims: stellate ganglion is a sympathic ganglion in the neck area which by effective blocking a lot of chronic pain syndromes at upper limbs, head, neck and chest can be treated. in this study, results of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block in 44 patients have been reviewed. methods and material: in this descriptive study, 44 patients candidate for stellate ganglion block due to chronic pain, block was done with bupivacaine 0/5% on level of c-6 tubercle under sonographic guide. successful blockage was diagnosed by horner syndrome and variation in temperature in two hands. any complications were recorded.   findings: among 101 cases which had stellate ganglion blocking, one had hoarseness, and three cases had cough. but there were no life threatening side effect such as vessel puncture, paresthesia or neuroaxial injection. conclusion: as a result of using sonography for blocking stellate ganglion, there are undeviating view of the target tissue, good view for the needle&aposs; direction,  good distribution of injected drug, and needing  lesser volume of injected drug and last but not least seeing vital proximal organs. so it seems this technique is an effective and secure one.