The Effect of Stellate Ganglion Block on the Treatment of Sensorineural Olfactory Disorder Following Upper Respiratory Tract Infection.
10.3342/kjorl-hns.2013.56.2.84
- Author:
Hyun Joo PARK
1
;
Dong Yeon KIM
;
Jung Ho BAE
;
Seung Sin LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. seungsin2@ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Anosmia;
Hyposmia;
Olfaction;
Stellate ganglion block
- MeSH:
Humans;
Olfaction Disorders;
Prospective Studies;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Respiratory System;
Respiratory Tract Infections;
Smell;
Stellate Ganglion;
Steroids;
Vitamins
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2013;56(2):84-89
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although systemic steroid is widely used, there is no established standard treatment for patients with sensorineural olfactory disorder. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the effect of stellate ganglion block (SGB) in patients with sensorineural olfactory disorders unresponsive to systemic steroids. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Twenty patients with anosmia or hyposmia following upper respiratory tract infection (URI) that was unresponsive to systemic steroid treatments were included in this study from February 2009 through December 2009. Nine patients were treated with SGB (the treatment group) and compared with the 11 untreated patients (the control group). Except for SGB, both groups were treated the same otherwise (with topical steroids, vitamins, peripheral vasodilators) during the treatment period. We evaluated the olfactory function using Korean Version of Sniffin' Sticks test II (KVSS II) and the subjective symptom questionnaire (SSQ). RESULTS: The KVSS II scores improved significantly only in the treatment group, showing a significant difference between the two groups, whreas the SSQ scores were improved in both groups and did not show significant differences. KVSS II and SSQ scores showed a significant correlation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SGB may be effective in the treatment for patients with sensorineural olfactory disorder following URI unresponsiveness to systemic steroid treatments.
