Stellate Ganglion Blocks (SGBs) are emerging as a beacon of hope for long COVID sufferers, particularly those grappling with persistent sensory dysfunctions. This innovative approach, traditionally reserved for pain management, leverages an injection targeting the sympathetic nervous system, potentially disrupting the dysregulated feedback loops believed to underpin long COVID symptoms.
A poignant example of SGB’s impact is Jennifer Henderson, whose senses of taste and smell were markedly restored post-treatment, underscoring the potential of SGB to disrupt abnormal nervous system feedback loops and ameliorate long COVID symptoms (https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/video-shows-woman-crying-as-she-smells-coffee-for-the-first-time-in-2-years-thanks-to-an-injection-to-treat-her-long-covid/articleshow/99303749.cms).
Mechanism of Action for Stellate Ganglion Blocks
Stellate Ganglion Blocks (SGB) involve injecting medication to block the stellate ganglion, a nerve bundle in the neck that’s part of the sympathetic nervous system. This block may reset the nervous system’s response to stress or injury, offering symptom relief by modulating the dysregulated autonomic nervous system commonly associated with long COVID.
Current Research and Emerging Insights
Recent studies illuminate SGB’s promise in addressing long COVID symptoms, especially olfactory dysfunction. Notably, a prospective case series demonstrated that SGB led to subjective and objective improvements in olfaction and quality of life among COVID-19 patients with olfactory dysfunction (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37750244/). Another study highlighted SGB’s efficacy in alleviating a range of long COVID symptoms, from fatigue to gastrointestinal issues (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36628048/).
Research focusing on post-COVID parosmia revealed significant enhancements in parosmia severity and quality of life post-SGB, indicating its potential to improve food enjoyment and social interactions (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38226898/). Furthermore, a broader study involving 195 patients reported an 87.4% improvement in olfaction following SGB treatment, suggesting its efficacy in treating persistent olfactory and gustatory symptoms (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37162813/).
Incorporating emerging insights, it’s speculated that SGB might also influence immune modulation, considering the autonomic nervous system’s role in immune system regulation. This perspective aligns with ongoing research exploring SGB’s broader physiological impacts beyond symptom relief, potentially offering a dual therapeutic action by modulating both neural and immune responses in long COVID.
References
1. Campen, CLMCV, Rowe, PC, Visser, FC. “Stellate ganglion block reduces symptoms of Long COVID: A case series.” Medicina (Kaunas). 2021.
2. Peterson, AM, et al. “Stellate Ganglion Block for the Treatment of COVID-19-Induced Olfactory Dysfunction: A Prospective Pilot Study.” 2023.
3. Khan, et al. “Stellate Ganglion Block for Long COVID Symptom Management: A Case Report.” Cureus. 2022.
4. Naimi, BR, et al. “Stellate ganglion block for treating post-COVID-19 parosmia.” Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2024.
5. Galvin, V, et al. “Short Communication: Stellate Ganglion Blockade for Persistent Olfactory and Gustatory Symptoms Post-COVID-19.” Local Reg Anesth. 2023.
Collectively, these studies support SGB as a safe, effective treatment modality for long COVID symptoms, especially sensory dysfunctions. Further research, including placebo-controlled trials, is crucial to fully elucidate SGB’s efficacy and underlying mechanisms in the context of long COVID.