Recruiting

SGB

Sponsor:

Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec

Code:

NCT07374562

Conditions

Long COVID

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Stellate Ganglion Block (Bupivacaine)

placebo saline injection

Study Details

Brief summary:

This single-center, randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial evaluates whether a stellate ganglion block (SGB) using bupivacaine can improve persistent symptoms in adults with long COVID. Participants are assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either an ultrasound-guided right-sided SGB or a placebo saline injection delivered to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. After the intervention, participants are followed for 26 weeks with scheduled evaluations that include symptom questionnaires and functional tests.

The study assesses changes in functional status, fatigue, cognitive complaints, quality of life, dyspnea, lower-limb endurance, and orthostatic tolerance over time. Safety is monitored throughout all follow-up visits. Approximately 40 participants meeting predefined eligibility criteria will be enrolled. This trial seeks to determine whether a single stellate ganglion block has an effect on persistent long-COVID symptoms compared with placebo.The results will help determine the therapeutic value of SGB in the management of long COVID and inform future research and clinical practice.

Conditions

Long COVID

Study ID

NCT07374562

Start date

Feb 5, 2026

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Feb, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Feb, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 18 years and older
  • Positive COVID-19 test confirmed by RT-PCR, antibody test, or antigen test at least 3 months prior to randomization, OR presumed COVID-19 evaluated by the site investigator (no positive test required) with an acute illness occurring after October 15, 2019 and at least 3 months prior to randomization.
  • Persistent symptoms ≥12 weeks after onset of acute COVID-19 AND symptoms lasting at least 2 months. The onset date is defined as the earliest of: date of first positive test, date of first symptoms
  • Post-COVID Functional Status Scale score ≥2.
  • Persistent dyspnea ≥2/4 on the mMRC scale at least 12 weeks post-infection.
  • Persistent COVID-19-related symptoms at the time of randomization.
  • If taking medications for fatigue or cognition (e.g., sildenafil, modafinil, armodafinil, guanfacine, N-acetylcysteine, stimulants for ADHD), these must have been initiated and stable for ≥4 weeks prior to randomization. Participants are asked not to stop or alter these medications during the study if possible.
  • Able and willing to provide written informed consent.
  • Able to read and understand French.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or fibromyalgia
  • Being on sick leave or disability at the time of the original acute COVID-19 infection.
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • Myocardial infarction within the last 12 weeks.
  • Use of anticoagulant therapy.
  • Glaucoma.
  • Emphysema requiring home oxygen.
  • Cardiac conduction abnormalities.
  • Known hypersensitivity to bupivacaine.
  • Previous stellate ganglion block (SGB) procedure.
  • Any condition that, in the judgment of the medical investigator, makes the patient not a candidate for the proposed treatment.

Study Design

Enrollment

40 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Stellate Ganglion Block with Bupivacaine

Participant receives a right-sided stellate ganglion block under ultrasound guidance, using bupivacaine, performed by an anesthesiologist.

placebo comparator: Placebo Neck Injection

Participant receives a saline injection into the sternocleidomastoid muscle under the same conditions.

Interventions

Stellate Ganglion Block (Bupivacaine)

A single ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block is administered on the right side of the neck under sterile conditions by an anesthesiologist. The needle is positioned between the longus colli muscle and the right carotid artery, and 7 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine is injected. Correct placement is verified by ultrasound and confirmed clinically by the expected appearance of Claude Bernard-Horner syndrome following the injection. Participants are observed for approximately 30 minutes after the procedure.

placebo saline injection

A single placebo injection of 6-8 mL of 0.9% normal saline is administered into the right sternocleidomastoid muscle. The procedure uses the same patient positioning, sterile preparation, and ultrasound guidance as the active arm; however, the needle is intentionally placed in the muscle, away from the stellate ganglion, and does not produce a stellate ganglion block (i.e., cannot cause Claude Bernard-Horner syndrome).

Primary outcome measure

  • Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale (PCFS) [ Time Frame: 4 weeks after the intervention ]
  • Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) [ Time Frame: 4 weeks after the intervention ]
  • Brain Fog Scale (BFS) [ Time Frame: 4 weeks after the intervention ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Marie-Claude Lehoux, Master's degree

819 697-3333marie-claude.lehoux@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Éva Mathieu, Ph.D

819 697-3333eva.mathieu@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Locations

Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire régional

Recruiting

Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada, G8Z 3R9

Contacts

Marie-Claude Lehoux, Master's degree

819 697-3333marie-claude.lehoux@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Éva Mathieu, Ph.D

819-697-3333eva.mathieu@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Principal Investigator:

David Hakim, MD

More Information

Sponsor

Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec

Last update posted

Feb 9, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Keywords

  • Long COVID
  • Stellate Ganglion Block
  • Bupivacaine

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec on 2026-02-09.