Tongue paresthesia and dysgeusia following operative microlaryngoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to assess the overall incidence and duration of alterations in tongue sensation and taste after operative microlaryngoscopy, and the relation of these symptoms to operative time.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of information regarding tongue symptoms in patients who completed standard post-microlaryngoscopy follow-up at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months.


RESULTS
One hundred patients (54 male and 46 female; mean age, 46 years; age range, 14 to 83 years) met the inclusion criteria. Eighteen patients had positive findings at 1 week: 15 complained of paresthesia and 3 of dysgeusia. The symptoms decreased over time without treatment (4% of patients at 1 month and 1% of patients at 3 months). Only 1 case of dysgeusia persisted past 3 months. Gender was found to be a significant independent risk factor for the development of symptoms (odds ratio, 5.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.36 to 31.29; p = .013). Patients whose operations lasted longer than 1 hour were almost 4 times more likely to develop tongue-related symptoms than those with an operative time less than 30 minutes, although these findings did not achieve statistical significance (odds ratio, 3.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.62 to 30.95; p = .182).


CONCLUSIONS
Alterations in tongue sensation and taste, most likely due to lingual nerve injury, are common after microlaryngoscopy, especially in female patients. They also tend to be associated with longer operative times. Although transient in nearly every case, lingual paresthesia and dysgeusia should form part of the preoperative discussion with the patient.
Tessema
Belachew
B
Department of Otolaryngology, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, New York, USA.
Sulica
Lucian
L
Yu
Guo-Pei
GP
Sessions
Roy B
RB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004408:Dysgeusia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061222:Lingual Nerve Injuries; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014059:Tongue / Q000294:innervation*