Clinical Research Article; Effect of stellate ganglion block on laryngopharyngeal reflux disease

• Published in: Korean journal of anesthesiology Vol. 64; no. 5; pp. 439 - 442
• Main Authors: Ji Won Chung, Hye Jung Chun, Mi Soon Lee, Ki Ryang Ahn, Chun Sook Kim, Kyu Sik Kang, Sie Hyeon Yoo, Jin Hun Chung, Nan Seol Kim, Yong Han Seo, Hyung Youn Gong, Yong Man Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한마취통증의학회(구 대한마취과학회) 30-05-2013
• Subjects: Laryngopharyngeal reflux; Proton pump inhibitors; Stellate ganglion block
• ISSN: 2005-6419; 2005-7563

Background: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) disease has many symptoms such as globus pharyngeus, excessive throat clearing and hoarseness. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of stellate ganglion block (SGB) in addition to proton pump inhibitors (PPI) on LPR. Methods: Fifty patients complaining of more than 3 typical LPR symptoms for over 3 months were enrolled in the study. The P group took PPI for 8 weeks. The SP group took PPI and interwent a series of 8 SGB procedure once a week during the period of treatment. The blocks were performed one at a time unilaterally on the right and left stellate ganglions by injecting 1% mepivacaine 6 ml. We evaluated the reflux symptom index (RSI) before treatment and following 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment in both groups. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, the RSI of the P group decreased, but not significantly, to 16.6 ± 6.8 compared with the baseline value of 19.2 ± 2.7 (P = 0.093), whereas the RSI of the SP group decreased significantly to 9.8 ± 3.3 compared with the baseline value of 19.0 ± 4.7 (P = 0.000). After 8 weeks of treatment, the RSI of the P group decreased significantly to 13.7 ± 6.7 (P= 0.001) and the RSI of the SP group also decreased significantly to 7.7 ± 3.4 (P= 0.000). There were significant differences in the RSI between the two groups after 4 weeks (P = 0.000) and 8 weeks (P = 0.001) of treatment. Conclusions: The symptoms of LPR improved earlier when PPI therapy was combined with SGB compared with PPI therapy alone. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2013; 64: 439-442)