The Application of Superior Laryngeal Nerve Block for Non-Cough Laryngeal Hypersensitivity

To investigate the effect of superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) block in patients with non-cough complaints relating to laryngeal who have failed conventional medical therapy.

Retrospective chart review of 46 patients who underwent SLN block for non-cough indications between July 2019 and March 2022 was performed. Demographics, comorbidities, and patient-reported outcomes were collected. The primary diagnoses for this group included: odynophagia, throat pain, cervicalgia, muscle tension dysphonia, globus sensation, hyoid bone syndrome, and Eagle syndrome.

The cohort underwent an average of 1.24 bilateral injections (range 0-7) and 0.87 unilateral injections (range 0-4). About 35 of 46 patients reported an average of 51.0% improvement in their symptoms, with the treatment effect lasting 7.60 weeks on average. On subgroup analysis, the patients with spasmodic dysphonia, odynophagia, and hyoid bone syndrome had the best percent improvement on average (75%-77.5%). Patients with globus sensation had the lowest percent improvement on average in response to this therapy, reporting only about 25%. Five patients experienced a mild adverse reaction immediately following injection which resolved spontaneously.

The use of in-office SLN block for non-cough disorders involving the larynx requires further study with larger sample sizes to better delineate the efficacy of these applications.

4 Laryngoscope, 134:1765-1768, 2024.