A 27-year-old woman from south London, Penelope Newman, has made a remarkable recovery after undergoing a breakthrough nose surgery to restore her lost sense of smell due to long Covid. The operation, known as functional septorhinoplasty (fSRP), was successful in rejuvenating her olfactory function.
Newman’s experience is part of a trial conducted by experts at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) that aimed to reverse the loss of smell after a Covid infection. The research involved 25 patients with prolonged anosmia, where they had suffered from impaired sense of smell for over two years and failed other treatments.
The fSRP surgery increased airflow to the part of the nasal cavity responsible for smell, which experts believe “kick starts” smell recovery. In contrast, patients who did not undergo surgery showed a worsening of their sense of smell.
Newman’s recovery has been remarkable, with her taste and smell returning almost to normal. She can now cook, eat garlic and onions, and enjoy dining out with friends and family. Although she still experiences some reduction in her olfactory function, the surgery has greatly improved her quality of life.
The research was led by Professor Peter Andrews and Alfonso Luca Pendolino, who reported impressive results from the trial. The study suggests that increasing nasal airflow can reactivate the sense of smell and lead to significant improvements in patients with long Covid-related anosmia.
Source: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/health/woman-27-undergoes-surgery-restore-31144969