Intravenous regional sympatholysis: a double-blind comparison of guanethidine, reserpine, and normal saline.

Abstract

This double-blind, randomized study was designed to compare the effectiveness of intravenous regional sympatholysis using guanethidine, reserpine and normal saline. Twenty-one patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy of an upper or lower extremity were enrolled and received intravenous regional blockade (IVRB) with one of the three medications. There was significant pain relief in all three groups at 30 min. There were no significant differences among the three groups in the degree of pain relief, the number of patients obtaining pain relief in the 30 min after the block, or the number of patients reporting more than 50% pain relief for more than 24 hr. The saline group's high rate of pain relief could be partially due to a mechanism of tourniquet-induced analgesia.

• Authors: J Blanchard, S Ramamurthy, N Walsh, J Hoffman, L Schoenfeld
• Journal: Journal of pain and symptom management (J Pain Symptom Manage) Vol. 5 Issue 6 Pg. 357-61 (Dec 1990) ISSN: 0885-3924 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2269803 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Sodium Chloride
• Reserpine
• Guanethidine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Autonomic Nerve Block (methods)
• Double-Blind Method
• Guanethidine (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (therapy)
• Reserpine (administration & dosage)
• Sodium Chloride (administration & dosage)
• Time Factors