Eugene G. Lipov (born 1958) is a physician researcher and board-certified anesthesiologist who specializes in intervention-based pain management in the Chicago area.[1]

Eugene G. Lipov
Born1958 (age 65–66)
NationalityAmerican
EducationB.A, Northwestern University; M.D., Feinberg School of Medicine; University of Illinois; Rush St. Luke's
Occupation(s)Physician Researcher, Anesthesiologist & Pain Management Specialist
Years active30
Known forIntervention-based pain management & the use of the stellate ganglion block for hot flashes & PTSD

He is best known for his treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using the stellate ganglion block (SGB).[2] The injection-based technique "seems to 'reboot' the body's sympathetic system and may help to reset a PTSD patient's overreaction to stimuli — their 'fight or flight' response—by resetting the sympathetic nervous system and central nervous system to the pre-trauma state.[3]

In 2016, the Pentagon approved funding for a study at three Army medical centers, citing SGB’s potential to be a huge game changer for many affected people with PTSD, whether from combat, sexual assault or other trauma. In 2017, the U.S. Army commissioned the first large-scale randomized trial of the procedure.[4][5]

Published in 2019, an Army-funded study, conducted by RTI International, confirmed that SGB was more than two times as effective compared to a placebo in relieving PTSD symptoms.[6]

Background

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Born in the Ukrainian SSR, Lipov and his family emigrated to the United States in 1973.[1] Once settled in Chicago, his father Gregory,[7] a cardiovascular surgeon, and his mother Mary,[7] an endocrinologist, were among the first group of physicians to take care of local Russian émigrés.[1] Both Lipov and his older brother Sergei[8] went on to have careers in medicine as adults.

Education

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A Frances W. Parker School (Chicago) graduate, Lipov received his bachelor's in biochemistry from Northwestern University in 1980. A medical degree from Feinberg School of Medicine followed in 1984, and Lipov moved to Cook County Hospital/University of Illinois for a surgical residency. He spent two years in an anesthesiology residency at the University of Illinois before completing his training at Rush St Luke's with advanced training in pain management.[9]

Pain management research & treatment

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Lipov's PTSD research earned him an invitation to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Veteran's Affairs in 2010.[10] His work also garnered references from former Congressman Rahm Emanuel, then Senator Barack Obama, and Senator Richard Durbin, among others. President Obama wrote: "There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that PTSD is afflicting a growing number of our heroic service members. [It] is important to consider any new approaches that may hold potential for helping our service members get the care they need."[11]

Lipov's scholarly research and interests include the development of new approaches for pain conditions, and old approaches for new indications. He has developed a new stimulator approach called the "Hybrid Stimulator" for back and leg pain.[12] He was also the first to report a successful use of stellate ganglion block for hot flashes and PTSD.[13]

Lipov has authored over 40 medical publications, including journal articles, book chapters and abstracts,[14][15] as well as two theoretical papers explaining the mechanisms of the effects observed in the controversial and non-peer reviewed journal Medical Hypotheses.[16][17] His "unified theory" explains the prolonged effects of local anesthetic placed on the stellate ganglion resolving complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).[16] It also predicts the positive effect of SGB on estrogen depletion, hot flashes, PTSD and other conditions.

Lipov has made numerous media appearances relating to his innovations in the treatment of chronic pain. Many have focused on state-of-the-art disk treatments,[18] implantable neuro-stimulators for lower back pain[19] and treatment of back and leg pain after surgery. His recent focus has been hot flash treatments and PTSD due to the lack of other effective treatments.

Personal life

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Lipov lives with his wife and one son, who co-authored The Adventures of Captain Heart with him at the age of 4.[20] The book explains how three-to-seven year-olds can maintain a healthy heart.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "BBS Radio". BBS Radio. Retrieved Feb 5, 2019.
  2. ^ "'I don't know if it's a miracle, but it's working for me.' Treatment may help with PTSD". The Sacramento Bee. ISSN 0890-5738. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  3. ^ Kime, Patricia (Nov 19, 2014). "Neck injections a viable treatment for PTSD, researchers say". Military Times. Retrieved Feb 3, 2019.
  4. ^ Phillips, Michael M. (June 12, 2017). "Can a Single Injection Conquer PTSD? The Army Wants to Find Out". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved Feb 3, 2019.
  5. ^ "Doctor: PTSD injection can work miracles, but DOD won't fund it". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  6. ^ Olmsted, Kristine L. Rae; Bartoszek, Michael; Mulvaney, Sean; McLean, Brian; Turabi, Ali; Young, Ryan; Kim, Eugene; Vandermaas-Peeler, Russ; Morgan, Jessica Kelley; Constantinescu, Octav; Kane, Shawn (2019-11-06). "Effect of Stellate Ganglion Block Treatment on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Randomized Clinical Trial". JAMA Psychiatry. 77 (2): 130–138. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3474. PMC 6865253. PMID 31693083.
  7. ^ a b Chicago, Tribune (Apr 3, 2006). "Lipov Obituary - Chicago, IL". Legacy.com. Retrieved Feb 5, 2019.
  8. ^ "Dr. Sergei G Lipov, MD - Reviews". Vitals. Retrieved Feb 3, 2019.
  9. ^ Lipov, Eugene. "Eugene G. Lipov, M.D." (PDF). LexVisio. Retrieved Feb 5, 2019.[dead link]
  10. ^ "House Committee on Veteran's Affairs". Roundtable on Innovative Treatments. Retrieved Feb 3, 2019.
  11. ^ Drummond, Katie (July 19, 2010). "Obama Loves This Freaky PTSD Treatment; the Pentagon, Not So Much". Wired. Retrieved Feb 3, 2019.
  12. ^ Lipov, Eugene G. (Nov 2013). "Peripheral nerve field stimulation for the management of localized chronic intractable back pain: results from a randomized controlled study". Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface. 16 (6): 565–575. doi:10.1111/ner.12055. PMID 23577773. S2CID 23807663 – via Google Scholar Citations.
  13. ^ Mulvaney, Sean W.; Lynch, James H.; Hickey, Matthew J.; Rahman-Rawlins, Tabassum; Schroeder, Matthew; Kane, Shawn; Lipov, Eugene (2014). "Stellate Ganglion Block Used to Treat Symptoms Associated With Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Series of 166 Patients". Military Medicine. 179 (10): 1133–1140. doi:10.7205/milmed-d-14-00151. PMID 25269132.
  14. ^ Lipov, Eugene G. "University of Illinois at Chicago | UIC · Department of Anesthesiology (Chicago)". Researchgate. Retrieved Feb 3, 2019.
  15. ^ Lipov, Eugene. "eugene lipov MD". Google Scholar Citations. Retrieved Feb 3, 2019.
  16. ^ a b Lipov, Eugene G. (June 2009). "A unifying theory linking the prolonged efficacy of the stellate ganglion block for the treatment of chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS), hot flashes, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)". Medical Hypotheses. 72 (6): 657–661. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.01.009. PMID 19237252.
  17. ^ Lipov, Eugene (2013). "More evidence supporting unified theory of stellate ganglion block". Medical Hypotheses. 81 (1): 146. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2013.04.018. PMID 23657137 – via Google Scholar Citations.
  18. ^ Lipov, Eugene G. (Feb 1, 2010). "a Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial to Evaluate Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation Using Subcutaneous Placement of Neurostimulation Leads in the Treatment of Localized Chronic Intractable Pain of the Back: 146". Pain Medicine. 11: 146 – via Google Scholar Citations.
  19. ^ Lipov, Eugene (2011). 'Hybrid neurostimulator': simultaneous use of spinal cord and peripheral nerve field stimulation to treat low back and leg pain. Progress in Neurological Surgery. Vol. 24. pp. 147–155. doi:10.1159/000323047. ISBN 978-3-8055-9489-9. PMID 21422785 – via Google Scholar Citations. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  20. ^ Fuller, Ruth (Sep 9, 2009). "Doctor pens children's book about heart health, obesity". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved Feb 3, 2019.