OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of reed tube moxibustion on basilar artery (BA) blood circulation and clinical efficacy in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) with blood stasis in the ear orifice syndrome.

METHODS A simple randomized controlled design was used to divide 68 SSNHL patients with blood stasis in the ear orifice syndrome into a control group and an observation group, with 34 cases in each group. The control group received standardized treatment in accordance with the SSNHL guidelines (the “standard regimen”). The observation group received additional reed tube moxibustion on the basis of the control treatment (the “reed tube moxibustion regimen”). Before and after treatment, the two groups were compared in terms of VAS score, TCM syndrome score, effective rate of hearing loss treatment, and recurrence rate to comprehensively evaluate clinical efficacy. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) was used to measure BA diastolic blood flow velocity (Vd), systolic blood flow velocity (Vs), mean blood flow velocity (Vm), pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI) to evaluate changes in BA circulation from multiple dimensions. Logistic regression with the Firth method was used to analyze influencing factors of clinical efficacy and BA blood supply characteristics.

RESULTS After treatment, the effective rate of hearing loss in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Aural fullness VAS score, tinnitus VAS score, and total TCM syndrome score were decreased in the observation group (P<0.05), and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving hearing loss score, local sensory abnormality scores, sublingual stasis spots scores, and total TCM syndrome scores (P<0.05). After treatment, BA Vd, Vs, and Vm were significantly increased in the observation group (P<0.01), but showed no improvement in the control group (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the reed tube moxibustion regimen was an independent protective factor for aural fullness, BA Vd, Vs, and Vm.

CONCLUSION The reed tube moxibustion regimen effectively alleviates hearing loss and TCM syndrome symptoms in SSNHL patients with blood stasis in the ear orifice syndrome and improves the prognosis for aural fullness. Its therapeutic mechanism may be related to the regulation of blood supply in the basilar artery.