Coronavirus disease 2019 related parosmia: an exploratory survey of demographics and treatment strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features, therapeutic efficacy and symptom time course of post-coronavirus disease 2019 parosmia. METHODS: A 22-item online questionnaire was distributed to AbScent research group and Facebook coronavirus disease 2019 anosmia group adult members to assess clinical features, interventions and their subjective efficacy for parosmia. RESULTS: A total of 209 participants (86 per cent females) reported: smell loss on average 3 days after coronavirus symptoms, recovery 4 weeks later, and first parosmia symptoms 12 weeks post infection. Respondents reported 10 per cent body weight loss, and listed onion and garlic as significant parosmia triggers. Regarding quality of life, depression was the most cited item (54 per cent). Smell training was trialled by 74 per cent of participants, followed by nasal corticosteroid spray (49 per cent). Stellate ganglion block, trialled by 16 per cent of respondents, had the highest reported improvement (45 per cent), with 21 per cent reporting a sustained benefit - the highest rate amongst registered treatment options. CONCLUSION: Post-coronavirus parosmia has a significant impact and remains challenging to treat. Stellate ganglion block appears to be successful relative to other reported treatments. Further research into the pathophysiology, efficacy and mechanism of stellate ganglion block effect is warranted.

Elective neck dissection during salvage total laryngectomy--a beneficial prognostic effect in locally advanced recurrent tumours.

OBJECTIVES: Elective neck dissection during salvage laryngectomy is controversial. The goal of our study was to evaluate the effect of elective neck dissection during salvage laryngectomy in patients with locally advanced disease at recurrence. DESIGN: Multicentre, retrospective study. SETTINGS: Two tertiary medical centres. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-seven patients treated by salvage laryngectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Disease-Free and Overall Survival. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients underwent salvage total laryngectomy for locally advanced recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, and 30 patients underwent salvage laryngectomy for limited recurrent disease. Elective lateral neck dissection was performed in 48 patients. The groups were similar in age, sex, initial TNM stage and pre-operative treatment. Survival analysis showed that both disease-free survival and overall survival were improved in patients with locally advanced disease who underwent elective neck dissection. This beneficial effect was not demonstrated in patients with limited disease at recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed that the extent of the recurrent disease as well as elective neck dissection was associated with improved disease-free survival and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Elective neck dissection during salvage total laryngectomy seems to improve survival in patients with advanced local disease at recurrence. The role of neck dissection in the treatment of smaller tumours awaits further studies.