Office-Based Superior Laryngeal Nerve Block for Treatment of Neurogenic Cough

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · Nov 19, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a new way to help people who have a persistent cough caused by a nerve issue known as neurogenic cough. The researchers want to see if injecting a combination of a local anesthetic and a steroid into a specific nerve in the throat can reduce the cough frequency and help ease symptoms. This treatment will take place in a doctor's office, making it more convenient for patients.

To participate in the trial, individuals must be 18 years or older, able to communicate in English, and have been coughing for at least eight weeks. They should have already tried standard treatments for their cough without success. However, those with other specific causes of cough, like asthma or allergies, will not be eligible. If you join the study, you can expect to receive the nerve block treatment and be monitored for any changes in your cough symptoms. This study is currently recruiting participants, and it could be a great opportunity for those struggling with this challenging condition.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• 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 done as part of a standard clinical workup for chronic cough and are not done specific to this study):
• • Reflux disease treatment with one of the following: failure of two months of PPIs OR negative pH study
• • Asthma: lack of response to at least one month of steroid inhaler/bronchodilator OR normal PFTs/negative methacholine challenge + negative CXR/CT
• • Upper airway cough syndrome/Allergic disease: lack of response to at least one month of antihistamines/decongestants/nasal steroids OR negative allergy testing (skin or serum) OR lack of response to at least one year of immunotherapy/allergy shots
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Age less than 18 years
• • Patients unable or unwilling to provide informed consent
• • Known etiology to cough other than sensory neuropathy (e.g., reflux disease, asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• • Addition of new neuromodulators at the time of the injection. Patients who were already being treated with neuromodulators for their cough (e.g., gabapentin, amitriptyline) will not be excluded provided their dose remains constant.
• • Nissen fundoplication within the last year
• • Smoking history within last 5 years
• • Allergy to bupivacaine or Kenalog-40