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Nerve Block for Long COVID (DSBLongCOVID Trial)
Phase 1
Waitlist Available
Research Sponsored by Megan Nicklay
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 1 month
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group
Summary
This trial is testing stellate ganglion blocks, which involve injecting a numbing medicine near nerves in the neck. The treatment aims to help patients with long COVID who have ongoing symptoms that don't respond to usual treatments. By blocking nerve signals, it may reduce pain and other issues linked to overactive nerves. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is an anesthetic treatment initially used for pain relief and has shown promise in treating severe and chronic PTSD.
Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults who've had COVID-19 and are now suffering from long-term symptoms like low blood pressure, digestive issues, or pain. They must have confirmed past COVID-19 with a test and ongoing symptoms for at least four weeks. People can't join if they're on blood thinners, have glaucoma, previous similar treatments, local anesthetic allergies, are pregnant, or have infections/masses where the injection would go.
What is being tested?
The study is testing whether injecting a numbing medication called bupivacaine into nerves in the neck (stellate ganglion block) helps relieve chronic symptoms that some people experience after COVID-19.
What are the potential side effects?
Possible side effects of the stellate ganglion block may include soreness at the injection site, light-headedness due to low blood pressure, difficulty swallowing temporarily and very rarely seizure if the drug spreads to nearby structures.
Timeline
Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~ 1 month
Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~1 month
Treatment Details
Study Objectives
Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.Primary study objectives
Ability to participate in social roles and activities status
Anxiety
Depression
+5 moreSecondary study objectives
Autonomic Symptoms: COMPASS-31 Score
Awards & Highlights
No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.
Trial Design
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: ActiveExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
This is a non-randomized, non-blinded study. Participants eligible for this study will receive active treatment. Dual Sympathetic Blocks of the stellate ganglion are minimally- invasive outpatient procedures performed under monitored care anesthesia (light sedation). Under ultrasound visualization, a small needle is guided into the neck region that contains the stellate ganglion nerve cluster at C6-C7. Once the needle position is confirmed, a local anesthetic (7 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine/Marcaine) is injected around the stellate ganglion by the Principal Investigator. This procedure is repeated at the C3-C4 level to block the superior cervical ganglion nerve cluster (3 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine/Marcaine).
Research Highlights
Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.Mechanism Of Action
Side Effect Profile
Prior Approvals
Other Research
The Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is a treatment being studied for Post-COVID Syndrome that works by interrupting the sympathetic nervous system activity. This is achieved by injecting a local anesthetic near the stellate ganglion, a collection of nerves in the neck.
By blocking these nerves, the treatment aims to reduce sympathetically-mediated symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, and other autonomic dysfunctions that are common in Post-COVID Syndrome. This matters for patients because it targets the underlying dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, potentially providing relief from persistent and debilitating symptoms that are not adequately managed by other treatments.
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Who is running the clinical trial?
Megan NicklayLead Sponsor
Jonathann Kuo, MDLead Sponsor