Taste disturbance after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated factors that may attribute to taste disturbance (TD) following uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).


METHODS
This longitudinal intervention study enrolled 108 patients who received UPPP for OSA. Patients who reported TD in the postoperative questionnaire were examined using the three-drop-method gustatory function test (GFT).


RESULTS
The GFT revealed that 5 patients (4.6%) reporting TD lost at least one of the four basic tastes 3 months after surgery. Deficiency of sweet sense was the most common type of TD (80%). The use of electrocautery for developing the uvulopalatal flap was the only significant predictor that may attribute to TD (odds ratio: 14.1). Repeating the GFT 9 months after operation showed a restoration of tastes in 4 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Development of the uvulopalatal flap using electrocautery may increase the likelihood of postoperative TD. Patients with taste disturbance after UPPP may eventually recover their taste function over time.


METHODS
C-4.
Li
Hsueh-Yu
HY
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. hyli38@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Lee
Li-Ang
LA
Wang
Pa-Chun
PC
Hsiao
Han-Ren
HR
Hsu
Chung-Yao
CY
Chen
Ning-Hung
NH
Fang
Tuan-Jen
TJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*