title: Successful treatment of dysgeusia after middle-ear surgery with amitriptyline: Case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The chorda tympani branches off of the facial nerve within the petrous portion of the temporal bone, and is responsible for controlling the taste in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue on each side. Due to its location, it is commonly injured during middle-ear surgery resulting in dysgeusia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case of a 59-year-old male had recurrent otitis media resulting in tympanic membrane perforation. Patient subsequently underwent lateral graft tympanoplasty. Shortly after surgery patient reported onset of dysgeusia consisting of metallic taste at the tip of the tongue and salty taste on the left side of the tongue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with Amitriptyline 50mg each night significantly improved the patient's symptoms of dysgeusia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amitriptyline may be an effective treatment for dysgeusia occurring after middle-ear surgery.
authors: Division of Neurological Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO.
authors: Vyacheslav
authors: V
authors: Makler
authors: Division of Neurological Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO. Electronic address: litofskyn@health.missouri.edu.
authors: N Scott
authors: NS
authors: Litofsky
mesh_terms: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002814:Chorda Tympani Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D004408:Dysgeusia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000639:Amitriptyline