Surgery restores sense of smell in patients with long Covid

People who lost their sense of smell and accompanying taste because of long Covid have had it restored through nasal surgery.

Experts used a technique for correcting blocked nasal passages on patients who have suffered a profound loss of smell after Covid infection.

It’s believed there could be up to 100,000 people in the UK who lost their sense of smell because of long Covid.

Penelope Newman, 27, from south London, was one of those taking part in the new University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) study.

She said: “Before I had the surgery on my nose, I had begun to accept that I would probably never be able to smell or taste things the way I used to.

“The food I could cook and eat was so limited, and I couldn’t go out to restaurants as I would feel unwell.

“Getting something as drastic as surgery was a risk I was willing to take on the small chance it might help.”

The operation, known as functional septorhinoplasty (fSRP), is typically used to correct any deviation of the nasal septum, increasing the size of nasal passageways and airflow to the region that controls smell.

Researchers believe the surgery “kick starts” smell recovery in patients who have lost their sense of smell to long Covid.

Ms Newman continued: “Since the surgery, I have begun to enjoy food and smells the same way I used to.

“I can now cook and eat garlic and onions and people can cook for me too. I can go out to eat with my friends and family.

“My taste and smell have almost returned to normal. I’m not sure if it will ever fully return as I still have a small reduction in it, but I am so glad that I am no longer as isolated as I once was.

“I will never take my senses for granted ever again.”

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The study included 25 long Covid patients, with 12 of the patients undergoing the surgery, while the control group of 13 patients continued with smell training – sniffing the same scents repeatedly – for the study.

All patients who had the surgery reported an improved sense of smell compared with none of the patients in the sniff test group, where 40% actually reported a worsening sense of smell.