Image-Guided Procedure Offers Hope for Restoring Sense of Smell in Long-COVID Patients
Research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) suggests that a minimally invasive procedure has shown promise in restoring the sense of smell to patients who have suffered from long-COVID.
Parosmia, a condition where the sense of smell is distorted, has been found to affect as many as 60% of COVID-19 patients. While most patients recover their sense of smell over time, some continue to have symptoms for months or even years, impacting their overall quality of life.
The new study explores the possible treatment benefits of CT-guided stellate ganglion block and its effectiveness in treating parosmia. The procedure involves injecting anesthetic into the neck’s stellate ganglion to stimulate the autonomic nervous system. Initial results are promising, with a significant proportion of patients reporting improvement in symptoms.
According to the study’s lead author, Adam C. Zoga, M.D., M.B.A., patients who experienced post-COVID parosmia often develop an aversion to foods and drinks they used to enjoy. In addition to parosmia, some patients also suffer from phantosmia, a condition that causes the detection of smells that are not present in their environment.
The study included 54 patients referred to the research team after at least six months of post-COVID parosmia that did not respond to traditional therapies. Following the stellate ganglion block procedure, many patients reported significant improvement, and some experienced near-complete resolution of symptoms like phantosmia.
The research team was surprised at some outcomes, including near 100% resolution of phantosmia in some patients throughout the trial. There were no complications or adverse events reported as a result of the procedure.
While further research is necessary, these initial findings offer hope for patients experiencing long-term post-COVID parosmia and provide a potential treatment strategy. The detailed results and analysis of this study will be presented at the RSNA annual meeting, offering additional insights into this promising treatment for long-COVID patients.