A Phase 2/3 interventional study of Stellate ganglion block and Bupivacaine in Atrial Fibrillation, sponsored by Mayo Clinic. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 60 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-10.
Sponsored by Mayo Clinic · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Prevention
The purpose of this study is to test if a nerve block procedure called a stellate ganglion block can help decrease the chance of atrial fibrillation after surgery. Atrial fibrillation is the abnormal, fast beating of the upper chambers of the heart. Stellate ganglion blockade has shown to decrease other types of abnormal heart rhythms as well as decrease the chance of atrial fibrillation.
The investigator hypothesizes that stellate ganglion blockade with local anesthetic performed prior to cardiac surgery will reduce the incidence and duration of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF).
Specific Aim 1: Determine the incidence of POAF in patients receiving pre-surgical stellate ganglion blockade with local anesthetic versus saline placebo within one week of surgery or during hospitalization if discharged prior to one week.
Specific Aim 2: Determine the duration of POAF in patients receiving pre-surgical stellate ganglion blockade with local anesthetic versus saline placebo within one week of surgery or during hospitalization if discharged prior to one week.
Specific Aim 3: Determine the success rate of the block as evaluated by ipsilateral hand temperature change and skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA).
3,870 studies on the registry are indexed under Atrial Fibrillation; 924 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 200 is above the median of 144 across 2,380 interventional studies indexed under Atrial Fibrillation.
Browse Atrial Fibrillation studies →Mayo Clinic is the lead sponsor of 3,218 studies on the registry; 670 are open to participants now.
Of its 445 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 313 (70%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects will receive a single injection of bupivacaine in a stellate ganglion block
Procedure: Stellate ganglion block · Drug: Bupivacaine
Subjects will receive a single injection of saline in a stellate ganglion block
Procedure: Stellate ganglion block · Drug: Placebo
Ultrasound guided injection into the stellate ganglion performed in the right side of the neck in a sterile fashion.
10 mL of 0.5% without epinephrine injected in the plane of the right stellate ganglion
10 mL of saline injected in the plane of the right stellate ganglion
Incidence of atrial fibrillation
Percentage of subjects to experience postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF)
Time frame: Within one week of surgery or during hospitalization if discharged prior to one week
Duration of atrial fibrillation
Duration of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF)
Time frame: Within one week of surgery or during hospitalization if discharged prior to one week
Skin Sympathetic Nerve Activity
Measurement of difference in skin sympathetic nerve activity following block
Time frame: 10-30 minute following performance of nerve block
Plan to share: No
This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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