World War COVID - Olfactory Theater of Operations & Long COVID (2022 AMW)
2022 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO Experience
In this expert review, we discuss post-viral impairment of the peripheral olfactory and gustatory system as well as the central olfactory nervous system. This course will review the association between olfactory impairment and infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus two (SARS-CoV-2), summarize the potential biological pathways, synthesize, and contextualize the most current histologic evidence from autopsy studies and advanced neuroimaging studies and speculate on the utility of this symptom for predicting subsequent neurological disorders and future neurodegenerative disease. The instructors will also review current treatment options for olfactory dysfunction including those proposed for the treatment of Long COVID. Otolaryngology is at the forefront for detecting and managing olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. Hence, the ability to connect the dots between the dynamics of viral tropism and clinical symptoms across diverse patient populations will allow a holistic understanding of COVID-19 pathophysiology. This approach is particularly important because SARS-CoV-2 is an emerging infectious disease, with a case definition that is continuously evolving and inconsistently applied among caregivers. The course will also provide a broad snapshot of the current state of understanding of olfactory dysfunction resulting from head trauma, neurodegenerative disease, conductive disorders, etc.
Credits
CME:1.0, MOC:1.0