Stellate Ganglion Block for Post-COVID Syndrome

(STAR-CO Trial)

This trial aims to determine if a stellate ganglion block (an injection in the neck that may help with nerve-related issues) can improve long COVID symptoms. Participants will receive either the actual injection with bupivacaine or a placebo injection with saline. The trial will monitor changes in symptoms such as fatigue, breathing difficulties, and quality of life over 26 weeks. It is ideal for adults who have had COVID-19 for at least 3 months and continue to experience persistent symptoms like breathlessness or fatigue. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research that could lead to new treatments for long COVID.

If you are taking medications for fatigue or cognition, you should have been on a stable dose for at least 4 weeks before joining the study and are asked not to stop or change these medications during the trial if possible.

Research has shown that a stellate ganglion block (SGB) using bupivacaine can be safe for people. Studies have found that SGB can reduce symptoms of long COVID for at least a month in some patients, suggesting the treatment is generally well-tolerated.

In these studies, most participants did not experience serious side effects. Common but mild effects included slight pain at the injection site and temporary changes in voice or swallowing, which usually resolved on their own.

Most treatments for post-COVID syndrome focus on managing symptoms with medications like pain relievers, steroids, or physical therapy. But the Stellate Ganglion Block treatment works differently. It involves an injection of bupivacaine, a local anesthetic, targeting the stellate ganglion—a cluster of nerves in the neck. This method is thought to potentially reset the autonomic nervous system, which might be disrupted in post-COVID syndrome. Researchers are excited because this could offer a novel way to address persistent symptoms directly at the nerve level, rather than simply masking them.

Research suggests that a treatment called stellate ganglion block (SGB) might help with long COVID symptoms. In this trial, participants will receive either a stellate ganglion block with bupivacaine or a placebo neck injection. Some studies have shown that SGB can reduce tiredness, mental fog, and issues with the body's automatic functions, such as heart rate and digestion. In certain cases, patients experienced relief for at least a month. However, the duration and consistency of symptom relief varied among individuals. While this is promising, more high-quality research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.¹²³⁴⁵