title: Gustatory changes in patients with chronic otitis media, before and after middle-ear surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated gustatory changes in patients with chronic otitis media, before and after middle-ear surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 38 patients with unilateral chronic otitis media. We used taste testing solutions to evaluate each patient's taste function. Intra-operative assessments of the chorda tympani nerve were also compared and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with chronic otitis media had significantly worse ipsilateral perception of sour, bitter and salty tastes. In patients with good intra-operative preservation of the chorda tympani nerve, there was significant improvement in gustatory function one month post-operatively, compared with the pre-operative baseline. In patients who sustained intra-operative chorda tympani nerve injury, one month post-operative gustatory function was the same as the pre-operative baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Middle-ear surgery for chronic otitis media not only treats the ear but also improves gustatory function in the majority of patients. In patients with intra-operative injury to the chorda tympani nerve, post-operative taste decline is only temporary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C-C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: C-D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y-T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Shiao
authors.forename: M-H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000370:Ageusia / Q000209:etiology*; D002814:Chorda Tympani Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects