Statistical analysis of visual prognosis following stellate ganglion block treatment on patients with retinal vessel obstruction

The visual outcome in 308 patients treated for retinal vessel obstruction was examined retrospectively and the effectiveness of each treatment was evaluated using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis and the chi-square test. Visual acuity was used as the parameter for assessing treatment effectiveness and the variables investigated included treatment factors [stellate ganglion block (SGB), urokinase administration, and prostaglandin administration] and patient factors (age, duration of visual impairment before treatment, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus). SGB treatment, the duration of visual impairment, and the presence of diabetes mellitus were significantly correlated with the visual prognosis following treatment. These results support the current hypothesis that SGB is a viable treatment for patients with obstructive disease of the retinal vessels.