Office-Based Superior Laryngeal Nerve (SLN) Block for Treatment of Neurogenic Cough
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate if office-based injection of a local anesthetic/steroid combination at the area of one superior laryngeal nerve can decrease cough frequency and alleviate symptoms of chronic cough in patients with neurogenic cough.
Description
Neurogenic cough is a chronic cough without a clear cause. It is thought to be related to irritation of a nerve that goes to the larynx (voice box). This can happen after a viral upper respiratory infection. Current treatment uses therapy or medications taken by mouth. Those medications can be sedating and not well tolerated. An alternative approach would be to perform an injection "nerve block", which is commonly done for other nerve disorders such as around the spine. This may help people with neurogenic cough also. We studied this recently in a small group of patients and found that patient…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older * Ability of patients to speak and understand English * Ability for patients to consent for themselves * Cough for 8 weeks or greater, with suspected sensory neuropathic etiology of the cough. Inclusion based on history of preceding upper respiratory infection or other symptoms suggestive of irritable larynx such as cough in response to temperature changes, odors, scents/perfumes, tickle, irritation in the throat/paralaryngeal region, or talking. * Persistent cough despite treatment of ALL the major contributors of cough (items listed below would be…
Interventions
- Drugsuperior laryngeal nerve block
A unilateral injection of 2 cc of a 1:1 mixture of 0.25% bupivacaine and Kenalog-40 via a 27 gauge needle to the thyrohyoid space (front of neck, just above larynx/voice box) via a 27 gauge needle to the thyrohyoid space (front of neck, just above larynx/voice box) on the side which exhibited most discomfort/tenderness/cough on palpation. If neither side was uncomfortable, the right side will be used.
Location
- University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, Alabama