Stellate Ganglion Block to Reduce Hot Flushes

Short-term Efficacy of Stellate Ganglion Block to Reduce Hot Flushes

To assess the short-term efficacy of stellate ganglion block on hot flush reduction versus sham procedure

Hot flushes are the most common symptom of menopause for which postmenopausal (PMP) women seek medical help, in 20% of PMP women hot flushes can persist for up to 15 years.

A possible treatment for hot flushes is stellate ganglion block (SGB), used as a means to interrupt parts of the sympathetic nervous system involved in temperature regulation.

Single centre randomized double blind placebo controlled intervention study Study period of 6 months in which patients will fill out on set time points 5 questionnaires regarding quality of life and keep a diary on hot flush frequency and severity during1 week on the same time points.

Study population:

Postmenopausal women aged 30-70 years old with no other causes of flushing present. Intervention (if applicable) Intervention: Stellate ganglion block versus sham procedure

Follow up with questionnaires during 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female
• Age: 30-70 years
• Mean daily flush frequency of 10 or more and a hot flush score of 15 or more
• Absence of any non-menopausal cause of flushing
• Post-menopause amenorrhea for more than 1 year in healthy postmenopausal women
• In case of breast cancer or ovariectomy induced menopause: ovariectomy for > 6 months. Adjuvant therapy with estrogen-receptor blocker or an aromatase inhibitor.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of medication that affects flushing:oestrogens, progestogens, clonidine, naloxone, paroxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, gabapentin, luteïniserend hormone releasing hormones receptor antagonist
• Receiving chemotherapy of radiotherapy
• Active psychiatric disease
• Active concurrent disease
• Allergic reactions against local anesthetics of the 'amide' type or contrast media.