Lymphedema of Upper Limb — Effectiveness of Stellate Ganglion Block in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema
Citation(s)
Kim J, Park HS, Cho SY, Baik HJ, Kim JH The effect of stellate ganglion block on intractable lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. Korean J Pain. 2015 Jan;28(1):61-3. doi: 10.3344/kjp.2015.28.1.61. Epub 2015 Jan 2.
Kim JG, Bae SO, Seo KS A comparison of the effectiveness of complex decongestive physiotherapy and stellate ganglion block with triamcinolone administration in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients. Support Care Cancer. 2015 Aug;23(8):2305-10. doi: 10.1007/s00520-014-2593-5. Epub 2015 Jan 11.
Park JH, Min YS, Chun SM, Seo KS Effects of stellate ganglion block on breast cancer-related lymphedema: comparison of various injectates. Pain Physician. 2015 Jan-Feb;18(1):93-9.
Park MW, Lee SU, Kwon S, Seo KS Comparison Between the Effectiveness of Complex Decongestive Therapy and Stellate Ganglion Block in Patients with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Randomized Controlled Study. Pain Physician. 2019 May;22(3):255-263.
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
