Innovative Solution for COVID-Induced Smell Loss – Shiv Telegram Media

New Treatment Shows Promise in Restoring Sense of Smell in Long-COVID Patients

A new study presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting has shed light on a potential treatment for long-COVID patients experiencing distorted senses of smell. The research explores the effectiveness of CT-guided stellate ganglion block, a minimally invasive procedure, in treating parosmia, a condition that affects up to 60% of COVID-19 patients.

Parosmia is a condition characterized by the distortion of the sense of smell. It can greatly impact the quality of life of long-COVID patients as it persists for months or even years after the infection has cleared. However, the results of this study show promising outcomes for those suffering from this distressing condition.

During the procedure, an anesthetic is injected into the stellate ganglion located in the neck. This injection stimulates the autonomic nervous system to restore the sense of smell. The process is minimally invasive, taking less than 10 minutes to complete.

The study utilized 54 patients who had been experiencing parosmia for at least six months after recovering from COVID-19. These patients had also previously tried and failed other therapies for their condition. CT guidance was used to ensure precise needle placement, and a small dose of corticosteroid was added to the anesthetic preparation to enhance the treatment’s effectiveness.

Initial results were highly encouraging, with many patients experiencing near-complete resolution of symptoms like phantosmia, which is the perception of smells that aren’t actually present. At one week post-injection, 59% of the patients reported improved symptoms, and at three months, there was an average 49% improvement among the 22 patients who were followed up.

In addition, 26 patients returned for a second injection given on the other side of the neck after a six-week interval. Of those who reported improvement after the first injection, 86% noticed further improvement after the second.

The procedure itself poses minimal risk, with no complications or adverse events reported during the study. This further suggests that CT-guided stellate ganglion block could be a valuable treatment option for long-COVID patients suffering from parosmia.

The potential of this treatment to restore the sense of smell in long-COVID patients is highly significant. It offers hope to those individuals who have been experiencing persistent symptoms long after their initial infection. Further research and trials will be necessary to confirm and refine these findings, but for now, the results are promising and offer a glimmer of hope for patients seeking relief from this debilitating condition.