A minimally invasive, 10-minute procedure may restore the sense of smell in patients who suffer from long Covid. Up to 60 per cent of Covid-19 patients have parosmia, or the loss of sense of smell. While the symptoms may clear in most patients, for some, it will last a long time, negatively affecting their appetite and overall quality of life.
For the study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, the researchers treated 54 patients with a stellate ganglion block, which involves a CT-guided injection of anaesthetic directly into the stellate ganglion, the nerves located on each side of the neck, to stimulate the nervous system.
This quick, 10-minute procedure does not require sedation or intravenous analgesia (pain relievers) and has been used to treat a number of conditions, including cluster headaches, phantom limb pain and certain cardiac issues.
Of the 37 patients followed up on, 22 reported improved symptoms at one week after the injection on one side of the neck. There was a 49 per cent average improvement in symptoms at three months. Eighty-six per cent of patients who reported some improvement after the first injection reported additional improvement after a second injection administered to the other side of the neck after six weeks. There were no complications or adverse events reported.