title: Taste and olfaction in middle ear surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess pre- and postoperative taste ability in patients undergoing middle ear surgery for otosclerosis or chronic otitis media. Olfactory function was also evaluated to rule out taste deficits due to concomitant nasal pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent ear, nose, and throat examination, otomicroscopy, nasal endoscopy, anterior rhinomanometry, taste testing, and olfactory testing. Patients were evaluated at 1 to 5 days preoperatively (T0), and at 1 (T1), 6 (T6), and 12 (T12) months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups of patients experienced worsening of the mean taste threshold postoperatively. This phenomenon was more serious in poststapedotomy patients. Follow-up showed progressive improvement in both groups. All values of olfactory testing were within the normal range for otosclerosis patients. Patients with chronic otitis media showed variable postoperative findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chorda tympani function can be negatively affected by middle ear surgery. Deficits may be more marked in stapedotomy patients than in those undergoing tympanoplasty. Postoperative recovery of taste is satisfactory, although with different timelines for the 2 types of pathology.
authors.affiliation: Organi di Senso Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciofalo
authors.affiliation: Organi di Senso Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giampietro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zambetti
authors.affiliation: Organi di Senso Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Disease, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vestri
authors.affiliation: Organi di Senso Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giannicola
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iannella
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Department, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Re
authors.affiliation: Organi di Senso Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy giuseppemagliuloorl@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magliulo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: chronic otitis media; olfaction; otosclerosis; taste