Neurotropin, a nonproteinaceous extract from the inflamed skin of rabbits inoculated with vaccinia virus, is reported to decrease
pain effectively when used for stellate ganglion (SG) injection. We compared the effects of
neurotropin SG injection with those of
mepivacaine on
pain relief, as well as comparing the side effects. One hundred and eighty-eight SG
injections in 15 patients (5 with
postherpetic neuralgia and 10 with
sudden deafness) were performed either with 1%
mepivacaine 6 ml or with
neurotropin 3 ml combined with saline 3 ml in turn. Fifteen min before and after the injection, the
pain score, according to a visual analog scale (VAS; only in patients with
postherpetic neuralgia); blood pressure; and heart rate were checked, and the number of procedures with Horner's sign was determined. VAS scores decreased significantly with both
injections. Horner's sign was observed on the block side in all procedures with the
mepivacaine injection, but it was seen in only 48 procedures with the
neurotropin injection. Blood pressure and heart rate did not change. In conclusion, the SG injection of
neurotropin decreased the VAS score in
postherpetic neuralgia to the same extent as
mepivacaine. The incidence of Horner's sign was significantly lower with
neurotropin than with
mepivacaine.