title: Improved Gustatory Sensitivity in Morbidly Obese Patients After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reduction in the preferences for sweet and fat containing tastes in obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery was relatively well shown; however, there are only limited data on the changes in the sensitivity of other tastes like sour, salty, and bitter.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the changes in gustatory sensitivity of 52 morbidly obese patients (M/F, 22/30; age range, 19-60 years; BMI range, 32.5-63.0 kg/m(2)) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The surgery was performed by the same surgeon using 5 ports technique. Gustatory sensitivity was tested preoperatively and 1 and 3 months after the surgery using standardized Taste Strips test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant improvement in the taste acuity to sweet, sour, salty, and bitter tastants in morbidly obese patients after the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy during the follow-up period of 3 months. Median whole test scores of the patients were increased from 11.5 preoperatively to 14 in the first and third months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we were able to show the significant improvement in gustatory sensitivity of morbidly obese patients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for the first time in literature.
authors: Yunus Emre Hospital, Istanbul, ENT clinic, ENT surgeon husdr@yahoo.com.
authors: Huseyin
authors: H
authors: Altun
authors: Okmeydani Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, ENT Department; ENT surgeon.
authors: Deniz
authors: D
authors: Hanci
authors: Liv Hospital, Istanbul, General Surgery clinic, General Surgeon.
authors: Hasan
authors: H
authors: Altun
authors: Liv Hospital, Istanbul, General Surgery clinic, General Surgeon.
authors: Burcin
authors: B
authors: Batman
authors: Liv Hospital, Istanbul, General Surgery clinic, General Surgeon.
authors: Rahmi Kursat
authors: RK
authors: Serin
authors: FSM Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, General surgery Clinic, General Surgeon.
authors: Aziz Bora
authors: AB
authors: Karip
authors: FSM Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Gastroenterology Clinic, Gastroenterologist.
authors: Umit
authors: U
authors: Akyuz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: bariatric surgery; gastrectomy; gestation; obesity; otolaryngology; rhinology; taste