Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2003 Jul;46(7):568-571.

The Efficacy of Stellate Ganglion Block in Olfactory Disorder Following Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

• Lee NS
• Yoon HR
• Park JW
• Yum JH
• Seo JH
• Cho JH
• Park KH
• Moon DE

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
For patients with sudden hearing loss or retina arterial spasm, stellate ganglion block (SGB) has been used as a treatment method to increase the blood flow to the interested area. The aim of this study is to prospectively investigate the efficacy of SGB in patients with olfactory dysfunction following upper respiratory tract infection (URI). MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fifty one patients with anosmia or hyposmia following URI were included. The average duration of olfactory dysfunction was 3.5+/-8.4 years. Thirty eight patients were treated with SGB and compared with the untreated 13 patients. Buthanol threshold test and odor identification test with 16 natural fragrances were used to determine anosmia/hyposmia in these patients and to quantify the improvement of olfactory perception after SGB treatment or follow-up without treatment. RESULTS: Olfactory perception was improved significantly in the treated patients as shown by the buthanol threshold test (p<0.001) and by odor identification test (p<0.001). Subjective olfactory perception was improved in 27 of the 38 treated patients (p<0.001). No complications were observed after SGB and no one reported any worsening in olfactory perception during or after treatment. On the other hand, none of the untreated patients showed any improvement in neither of the tests or the subjective assessment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SGB may be a new treatment modality for olfactory dysfunction following URI.

Keyword

Stellate ganglion block; Olfaction; Anosmia

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Hand
Hearing Loss, Sudden
Humans
Odors
Olfaction Disorders
Olfactory Perception
Prospective Studies
Respiratory System*
Respiratory Tract Infections*
Retina
Smell
Spasm
Stellate Ganglion*