title: Taste disturbance after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. hyli38@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Hsueh-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-Ang
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Pa-Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Han-Ren
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Chung-Yao
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Ning-Hung
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tuan-Jen
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: 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*