title: International Common Otology Database: taste disturbance after stapes surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To use a study on dysgeusia to assess the usefulness of an otology database.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted from the international Common Otology Database.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary stapes operations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From a cohort of 14 otologists, only 8 (57%) were able to satisfy external validation and maintain data input for a period of at least 6 months. The rates of dysgeusia varied from 0 to 39% at 3 months and 0 to 27% at 6 months. The percentages of patients with taste disturbance at 6 months in the "nerve-cut" and "nerve-preserved" groups were 22.7 and 10.9%, respectively, although this was not statistically significant (chi2; p = 0.325).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many surgeons found it difficult to maintain a prospective otology database. The rates of certain subjective symptoms such as dysgeusia are influenced by how vigorously the reviewers prompt the response from the patients. Dysgeusia after stapes surgery is common even if the chorda tympani nerve is preserved. Many patients whose chorda tympani nerve is divided may not complain of dysgeusia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. matthewyung@btconnect.com
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yung
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hausler
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Offeciers
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pytel
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skladzien
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Somers
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ven de Heyning
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors