title: Sympathetic Nerve Entrapment Point Injection as an Antireflux Procedure for Refractory Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: A First Case Report of Innovative Autonomic Regulation.
abstract: Surgical treatment is not suitable for laryngopharyngeal reflux that is refractory to proton pump inhibitors. We present a case of proton pump inhibitor-refractory laryngopharyngeal reflux that was successfully treated with sympathetic nerve entrapment point injection. The patient had previously been diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux and treated with proton pump inhibitors for six months without substantial improvement. After sympathetic nerve entrapment point injection treatment, her reflux symptom index improved from 15 points to 1 point, and this response was maintained for six months. Hyperexcitability of T5 and T6 sympathetic preganglionic fibers appears to be the main cause of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Sympathetic nerve entrapment point injection may represent an alternative to anti-reflux procedures.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lee is with the Department of Psychiatry at Ahav Hospital, South Korea; Dr. Oh is with the Department of Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology at the Seoul Samsung Union Clinic in South Korea; and Dr. Seong is with the Department of Family Medicine at the SNEPI Research Institute, Sarang Clinic in South Korea.
authors.forename: Sangsoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lee is with the Department of Psychiatry at Ahav Hospital, South Korea; Dr. Oh is with the Department of Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology at the Seoul Samsung Union Clinic in South Korea; and Dr. Seong is with the Department of Family Medicine at the SNEPI Research Institute, Sarang Clinic in South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Jin
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lee is with the Department of Psychiatry at Ahav Hospital, South Korea; Dr. Oh is with the Department of Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology at the Seoul Samsung Union Clinic in South Korea; and Dr. Seong is with the Department of Family Medicine at the SNEPI Research Institute, Sarang Clinic in South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Seong
keywords: Sympathetic nerve entrapment point injection; antireflux procedure; autonomic regulation; laryngopharyngeal reflux; reflux; refractory