Treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss with a continuous epidural block

The efficacy of a continuous epidural block was evaluated in the treatment of 20 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Ten patients were treated with continuous cervicothoracic epidural block (group A) and t he other 10 were treated with stellate ganglion block (group B). No signifi cant difference in factors affecting prognosis was noted between the groups . In the epidural block group 70% achieved substantial hearing improvement, while this occurred in only 30% of patients undergoing stellate ganglion b lock. These findings suggest that continuous epidural block can be effectiv e in the treatment of sudden SNHL.