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ASOHNS ASM 2025
ASOHNS ASM 2025
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Superior laryngeal nerve block for neurogenic cough: a two-year, single-center experience

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Verbal Presentation

2:30 pm

29 March 2025

Meeting Room C2.2

CONCURRENT SESSION 3A: LARYNGOLOGY

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Presentation Description

Institution: St. George Hospital - NSW, Australia

Aim – Intractable chronic cough is a common problem that is often recalcitrant to simple speech pathology treatment and negatively impacts to one’s quality of life. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of an in-office superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) block in this patient population. Methodology – A prospective case series of patients presenting with chronic cough to an outpatient laryngology clinic in a single tertiary center was examined. Exclusion criteria excluded patients <18 years with other causes of chronic cough which has not been optimally addressed and/or pre-existing laryngeal pathology. All patients received assessment and cough suppressive therapy with a designated speech pathologist as the primary treatment. In cases where therapy was not successful, a SLN blocks was performed in-office using a combination of a 1:1 ratio of 2% lignocaine and betamethasone 5.7mg/1ml, with 2.5mls injected on each side every session. Patients were followed up 3 months after their first SLN block, with further follow-up intervals determined from patient clinical response. Results – 9 patients (8 females) were included in this study, with a median age of 64 (IQR 62; 67). Patients had all failed traditional therapy and 1 patient (11.1%) had also trialled gabapentin prior to their first SLN block. The median duration of chronic cough was 120 months (IQR 24; 180). 7 patients (77.8%) underwent 2 blocks, one patient (11.1%) underwent 3 blocks, and 1 patient (11.1%) underwent 7 blocks. 7 patients (77.7%) reported an average improvement of 4 weeks following the first injection. The median follow-up time from the first SLN block was 1.5 months (IQR 1; 2). There were no major complications from this procedure. Conclusion – SLN block is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of neurogenic cough. In conjunction with cough suppression therapy performed by speech pathologists, patients may yield more successful resolution of intractable chronic cough.

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Authors

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Dr Richard Tjahjono - , Dr Veena Wadhera - , A/Prof Julia Maclean - , Dr Justine Millar -