Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  1999 Mar;42(3):311-316.

The Efficacy of Stellate Ganglion Block in the Treatment of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

• Lee HK
• Yang HD
• Kim MS
• Han JW
• Chon KM
• Kim HN

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A stellate ganglion block (SGB) induces vasodilatation in the head, neck, and upper extremities. Based on this principle, SGB has been widely used as one of the treatment modalities in sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss (S-SNHL). However, until now, published data establishing the statistical significance of the effect of SGB has been slim. We conducted this study to find out the effect of SGB in the treatment of idiopathic S-SNHL and to find out the factors influencing the prognosis of the disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We reviewed the records of 221 patients seen in the past eight years between 1990 to 1997 who had an initial diagnosis of idiopathic S-SNHL and was admitted for treatment. One hundred twenty patients were treated with SGB and the other 101 patients were treated without SGB to use as a control group.
RESULTS
The therapeutic result of SGB group was better than that of the control group. Especially, statistical difference was found in the following two subgroups; one in which the interval between the onset of disease and the initiation of treatment was from 8 to 28 days, and the other when the initial hearing loss was below 90 dB.
CONCLUSION
We suggest that this study could be utilized as a standard of clinical treatment when SGB is performed.

Keyword

Stellate ganglion block; Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Head
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural*
Humans
Neck
Prognosis
Stellate Ganglion*
Upper Extremity
Vasodilation