title: Side effects after surgical treatment of snoring.
abstract: In a questionnaire study detailed side effects after snoring surgery were examined in 415 individuals 2-8 years after surgery. Three years later a new questionnaire was answered by those with side effects affecting taste, smell and voice (n = 74). At the first follow-up 255 had side effects of globus, regurgitation, taste, smell and voice. The globus was the most common (40%). In all spheres except the globus, a significant improvement was seen 3 years later. However, pharyngeal dryness and phlegm had a reported frequency of nearly 60%. No significant differences were seen between the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and laser uvulopalatoplasty methods. Taste disturbances might be due to surgical damage to the nerves or oral dryness. The olfactory impairment present in 7 patients still needs to be explained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Britt.Hagert@hul.liu.se
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hagert
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wikblad
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Odkvist
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Wahren
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012913:Snoring / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery