Impact of Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block on Swallowing Difficulties Caused by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

A Randomized Controlled Study to Explore the Effect of Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block on Pharyngeal Dysphagia Induced by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

The goal of this clinical trial is to explore Clinical Effect of Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block on Pharyngeal Dysphagia Induced by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. The main question it aims to answer is:

• Can Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block improve dysphagia caused by gastroesophageal reflux symptoms on the basis of rehabilitation training? Participants will be randomly allocated into the control group or the experimental group, all under rehabilitation treatment, the experimental group will be given Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block once a day additionally. The study lasts 20 days for each participant. Researchers will compare the Rosenbek penetration-aspiration scale, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire, Pressure pain threshold, to see if the Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block can help improve the symptom.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Dysphagia
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block; Behavioral: Rehabilitation therapy; Drug: Lidocaine Hydrochloride; Behavioral: placebo injection

Detailed Description

Gastroesophageal reflux is a common digestive disorder characterized by the backflow of stomach contents and fluids into the esophagus.

The goal of this clinical trial is to explore Clinical Effect of Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block on Pharyngeal Dysphagia Induced by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. The main question it aims to answer is:

• Can Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block improve dysphagia caused by gastroesophageal reflux symptoms on the basis of rehabilitation training? Participants will be randomly allocated into the control group or the experimental group, all under rehabilitation treatment, the experimental group will be given Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block once a day additionally. The study lasts 20 days for each participant. Researchers will compare the Rosenbek penetration-aspiration scale, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire, Pressure pain threshold, to see if the Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block can help improve the symptom.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Meeting the diagnostic criteria for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.
• Age between 18 and 85 years.
• Confirmed tongue-pharyngeal nerve injury by electromyography.
• Esophageal manometry and barium swallow examination confirming the presence of pharyngeal dysphagia.
• Normal higher brain function, able to cooperate with treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Brain vascular disease diagnosed.
• Clinical assessment and swallowing videofluoroscopic examination revealing cognitive phase, oral preparatory phase, or oral phase disorders.
• Concurrent presence of other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease.
• Esophageal obstruction and severe liver or kidney dysfunction
• Subjective unwillingness to undergo the treatment and presence of psychiatric abnormalities, etc.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Rehabilitation therapy+Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block; The study lasts 10d for each patient. During the treatment, All the participants are provided with the rehabilitation therapy. Based on this, the patients in the experimental group are provided with Stellate Ganglion Block , using 1.5ml of 2% Lidocaine hydrochloride (1ml: 0.5mg) and 500ug of Vitamin B12 (1ml: 0.5g), once a day.	Procedure: Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block; The patient lies supine without a pillow, turns the head to the contralateral side of the block, and at the midpoint of the line connecting the angle of the mandible with the mastoid process (the styloid process), the skin is disinfected, and a 22-gauge, 3.8 cm puncture needle is loaded onto a 5 mL syringe. The puncture needle is inserted perpendicularly to the skin surface at the styloid process, and advanced through the skin and subcutaneous tissue until it contacts the bone of the styloid process. The puncture needle is then retracted and advanced anteriorly beyond the styloid process by 0.5-1.0 cm. When no blood or cerebrospinal fluid is aspirated, the blocking drug can be injected [20 g/L lidocaine injection].; Behavioral: Rehabilitation therapy; Rehabilitation therapy includes Diet management: Avoiding consumption of irritant foods and beverages, such as spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, and acidic foods. Controlling portion sizes and meal timing, and adopting smaller, more frequent meals. Lifestyle adjustments: Avoiding lying down or bending immediately after meals, maintaining a sitting or upright position for at least 2 hours. Adjusting sleeping positions by elevating the head of the bed to reduce nighttime acid reflux. Avoiding excessive exertion and managing stress levels. Rehabilitation training: Strengthening the control of esophageal and gastric muscles through rehabilitation exercises to improve the function of the gastroesophageal sphincter and prevent gastric fluid reflux.; Drug: Lidocaine Hydrochloride; When no blood or cerebrospinal fluid is aspirated, the blocking drug can be injected [20 g/L lidocaine injection]. once a day. 1 ml per time.
Placebo Comparator: Rehabilitation therapy+placebo injection; The study lasts 10d for each patient. During the treatment, All the participants are provided with the rehabilitation therapy.	Behavioral: Rehabilitation therapy; Rehabilitation therapy includes Diet management: Avoiding consumption of irritant foods and beverages, such as spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, and acidic foods. Controlling portion sizes and meal timing, and adopting smaller, more frequent meals. Lifestyle adjustments: Avoiding lying down or bending immediately after meals, maintaining a sitting or upright position for at least 2 hours. Adjusting sleeping positions by elevating the head of the bed to reduce nighttime acid reflux. Avoiding excessive exertion and managing stress levels. Rehabilitation training: Strengthening the control of esophageal and gastric muscles through rehabilitation exercises to improve the function of the gastroesophageal sphincter and prevent gastric fluid reflux.; Behavioral: placebo injection; The patient lies supine without a pillow, turns the head to the contralateral side of the block, and at the midpoint of the line connecting the angle of the mandible with the mastoid process (the styloid process), the skin is disinfected, and a 22-gauge, 3.8 cm puncture needle is loaded onto a 5 mL syringe. 1 milliliter of normal saline will be used for injection.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
penetration-aspiration scale	This assessment evaluated the patient's swallowing of contrast medium and whether there was retention, penetration, and aspiration. It included multiple items, each with the corresponding criteria, Specifically, whether the swallowed material entered the airway, passed through or contacted the vocal cords, and whether the patient exhibited the corresponding ability to clear. The scores range between one to eight, with higher levels indicating more severe outcomes of aspiration.	day 1 and day 10

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pressure pain threshold	Pressure is applied on the spinous processes of the fourth cervical vertebrae. Pressure will be uniformly increased, and patients are given the identical instruction, "let me know when the sensation of pressure becomes uncomfortable or painful". At this point, the pressure will be immediately released, and the plunger is retracted by the evaluator. And the pressure will be recorded	day 1 and day 10
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire	The Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire is a commonly used questionnaire for assessing the symptoms and severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease. It was developed by gastrointestinal experts in Germany and consists of six questions that evaluate the frequency and severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms. For each question, patients are required to select the answer that best corresponds to their situation. Different scores are assigned based on the chosen answers, and a total score is calculated at the end. The maximum score for the Test is 12 points, with a lower score indicating milder symptoms and a higher score indicating more severe symptoms.	day 1 and day 10

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Copka Sonpashan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 10, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Pharyngeal Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Esophageal Motility Disorders; Esophageal Diseases; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Deglutition Disorders; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Sensory System Agents; Anesthetics; Membrane Transport Modulators; Anesthetics, Local; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blockers; Sodium Channel Blockers; Lidocaine
• Other Study ID Numbers: Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No