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Procedure

Stellate Ganglion Block for Loss of Smell

Phase 1 & 2
Waitlist Available
Research Sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 5-10 days post sgb #1 and 1 month
Awards & highlights

Study Summary

This trial is investigating whether stellate ganglion blocks, which are a treatment for sympathetic nervous system activation, can improve olfactory dysfunction and other symptoms in people who have had COVID-19.

Eligible Conditions
  • Loss of Smell
  • Reduced Sense of Smell
  • Parosmia
  • Olfactory Disorders

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~5-10 days post sgb #1 and 1 month
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 5-10 days post sgb #1 and 1 month for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Clinical Global Impression - Improvement (CGI-I) Score
Secondary outcome measures
Clinical Global Impression - Severity (CGI-S) Score
Olfactory Dysfunction Outcomes Rating (ODOR)
University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT)
Other outcome measures
Self-reported change in other Long COVID symptoms

Side effects data

From 2022 Phase 1 & 2 trial • 20 Patients • NCT05445921
100%
Horner syndrome
45%
Hoarseness
35%
Globus
25%
Brief lightheadedness
20%
Numbness of the face
20%
Mild shortness of breath
15%
Nasal congestion
15%
Pain at the injection site
15%
Fatigue
5%
Cough
5%
Headache
5%
Arm heaviness
5%
Palpitations
5%
Weakness of the neck/back
5%
Bruising of the injection site
5%
Weakness of the arm
5%
Tightness of the back
5%
Chest heaviness
5%
Tightness of the shoulder
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Stellate Ganglion Block

Trial Design

1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Stellate Ganglion BlockExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The ultrasound guided stellate ganglion blocks will be performed by a pain management specialist with extensive experience performing these blocks. The first SGB at the initial visit will be performed on the right side, and the second SGB will be on the left side 5-10 days after the first SGB, given that the patient tolerated the first SGB.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Stellate Ganglion Block
2020
Completed Phase 2
~200

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Washington University School of MedicineLead Sponsor
1,933 Previous Clinical Trials
2,299,705 Total Patients Enrolled

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

What is the current patient enrollment for this clinical research?

"Affirmative. The information posted on clinicaltrials.gov shows that this medical trial is presently open to participants, and was first published on September 1st 2022 with the last update being made 12 days later. This study requires 20 individuals from a single site for enrolment."

Answered by AI

What criteria must a participant satisfy to be qualified for this research?

"This trial is recruiting up to 20 individuals who suffer from anosmia and are between 18-70 years old."

Answered by AI

Does this experimental protocol extend to geriatric patients?

"This medical experiment is open to those 18 years or older, yet younger than 70."

Answered by AI

Are there still openings available for participants of this research?

"Affirmative. According to clinicaltrials.gov, the research project was initially posted on September 1st 2022 and has since been amended; 20 participants across one site are needed for this ongoing study."

Answered by AI

Who else is applying?

What state do they live in?
Florida
North Carolina
Missouri
Other
How old are they?
18 - 65
What site did they apply to?
Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes Jewish Hospital
What portion of applicants met pre-screening criteria?
Did not meet criteria
Met criteria
How many prior treatments have patients received?
2
0

Why did patients apply to this trial?

I have no sense of smell since surgery 2022 to remove a Pheochromocytoma on my left kidney.
PatientReceived 2+ prior treatments
I want to be able to smell normally again. When I lost my sense of smell due to Covid, I was put on steroids and it came back; after finishing the course of steroids it went away again. I have had some success with acupuncture but I had a hypersensitive sense of smell before and now the first thing I do every morning is see if I can smell any of my coffee.
PatientReceived 1 prior treatment

What questions have other patients asked about this trial?

What are the risks?
PatientReceived 2+ prior treatments

How responsive is this trial?

Typically responds via
Phone Call
Email
Most responsive sites:
  1. Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes Jewish Hospital: < 48 hours
Average response time
  • < 2 Days
Recent research and studies
JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck SurgeryJournal
Growing Public Health Concern of COVID-19 Chronic Olfactory Dysfunction
Khan, Amish M., Dorina Kallogjeri, and Jay F. Piccirillo. 2022. “Growing Public Health Concern of COVID-19 Chronic Olfactory Dysfunction”. JAMA Otolaryngology–head & Neck Surgery. American Medical Association (AMA). doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2021.3379.
Plos OneJournal
Persisting Olfactory Dysfunction in Post-covid-19 Is Associated with Gustatory Impairment: Results from Chemosensitive Testing Eight Months After the Acute Infection
Hintschich, Constantin A., René Fischer, Thomas Hummel, Jürgen J. Wenzel, Christopher Bohr, and Veronika Vielsmeier. 2022. “Persisting Olfactory Dysfunction in Post-covid-19 Is Associated with Gustatory Impairment: Results from Chemosensitive Testing Eight Months After the Acute Infection”. Edited by John I. Glendinning. Plos One. Public Library of Science (PLoS). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0265686.
BMC Infectious DiseasesJournal
Self-reported Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunctions in COVID-19 Patients: A 1-year Follow-up Study in Foggia District, Italy
Fortunato, Francesca, Domenico Martinelli, Giuseppina Iannelli, Marica Milazzo, Umberto Farina, Gabriella Di Matteo, Rosella De Nittis, et al.. 2022. “Self-reported Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunctions in COVID-19 Patients: A 1-year Follow-up Study in Foggia District, Italy”. BMC Infectious Diseases. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1186/s12879-022-07052-8.
Taste and SmellJournal
Olfactory Disorders Following Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Welge-Lüssen, Antje, and Markus Wolfensberger. 2006. “Olfactory Disorders Following Upper Respiratory Tract Infections”. Taste and Smell. KARGER. doi:10.1159/000093758.
~8 spots leftby Apr 2025
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