Efficacy of Stellate Ganglion Block in Treating Long-Term COVID-19-Related Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunction: A Case Series
Abstract
Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, including anosmia, parosmia, ageusia, and dysgeusia, are common long-term symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. These symptoms can have a severe impact on quality of life of a patient, including psychological well-being. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) has recently been explored as a potential therapeutic intervention for these symptoms. In this case series, we present six patients with long-term COVID-19 symptoms and we detail how their symptoms evolved after an SGB. All SGB were performed under ultrasound guidance by the same physician. Patients had a right SGB during the initial visit, followed by a left SGB at a subsequent visit. All but one patient reported improvements in olfaction and gustation after the SGB. Our findings suggest that SGB may be a promising therapeutic intervention for patients with olfactory and gustatory dysfunction related to long-term COVID-19 symptoms. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to explore the optimal treatment protocol.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Safety and efficacy of COVID‐19 vaccines: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of controlled and randomized clinical trials
- Accuracy Comparison between Robot-Assisted Dental Implant Placement and Static/Dynamic Computer-Assisted Implant Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of In Vitro Studies
- Determinants of passive antibody efficacy in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Cleaning efficacy of EDDY versus ultrasonically-activated irrigation in root canals: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Bonding Efficacy of Universal Resin Adhesives to Zirconia Substrates: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- In vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts and essential oils of Cinnamomum, Salvia, and Mentha spp. against foodborne pathogens: A meta-analysis study
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.