Taste disturbance following tongue base resection for OSA.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate taste disturbance (TD) following endoscopic coblator open tongue base resection (Eco-TBR) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-hypopnea syndrome.


METHODS
A retrospective study in a tertiary academic medical center.


METHODS
Eighty patients with OSA who failed continuous positive airway pressure therapy and underwent Eco-TBR for the tongue base obstruction were enrolled in this study. Taste changes and complications were examined before and after surgery. The standard three-drop-method gustatory function test was used to study taste status preoperatively and at 7 days, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively.


RESULTS
Six female and 74 male patients with OSA (mean age, 42.6 years; mean apnea-hypopnea index, 48.9/hour) had a minimum follow-up of 3 months and complete data available for analysis. One patient had postoperative oral bleeding. No long-term obvious dysphagia was encountered. Twelve patients had obvious TD in the four basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, and bitter). At 3 months postoperative time, eight patients still had changes in taste sensation; however, the TD severity decreased and did not impact the patients' regular social life. The percentage of taste changes by time after Eco-TBR was between 13.8% and 17.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows Eco-TBR may contribute to postoperative TD. The surgeons should clearly inform the OSA patient about the possibility of TDs after tongue base resection.


METHODS
4.
Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|The Sleep Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Hsin-Ching
HC
Lin
Department of Otolaryngology Advanced Center for Specialty Care, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Michelle S
MS
Hwang
Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chang-Chuan
CC
Liao
Department of Otolaryngology Advanced Center for Specialty Care, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.|Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Sleep Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Michael
M
Friedman
D000328:Adult; D004408:Dysgeusia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014059:Tongue / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Sleep apnea; obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome; snoring; taste; tongue base surgery