title: Olfactory and Gustatory Functions after Anterior Palatoplasty in Patients with Primary Snoring.
abstract: In this study, we investigated the chemical senses (namely, olfaction), the 4 basic tastes, and umami taste in patients who underwent anterior palatoplasty (AP) for primary snoring.
  
  
  
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  
  Multicenter, tertiary care hospitals.
  
  
  
  The age range of the 28 participants was 22 to 47 years, and all had been diagnosed with primary snoring by polysomnography. Orthonasal and retronasal olfactory testing was performed using the respective "Sniffin' Sticks." Tests for the 4 basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, and bitter) and umami were performed before and 6 months after AP.
  
  
  
  The changes between the preoperative and postoperative results for the 4 basic tastes, which were applied to the anterior tongue region, were not significant. Retronasal olfactory function improved significantly 6 months after AP (P = .007). After AP, umami scores for the soft palate but not those of the anterior and posterior tongue decreased significantly (P = .001).
  
  
  
  Patients scheduled for AP should be properly informed about potential postoperative taste and flavor changes. They should also be warned of a possible loss of appetite due to a postoperative decrease in the umami taste sensation of the soft palate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kasımpasa Military Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Saglam
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Istanbul Surgery Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aytug
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altundag
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Amasya University S. S. Training and Education Hospital, Amasya, Turkey melihcayonu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cayonu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, GATA Haydarpasa Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salihoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medient Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azizli
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kasımpasa Military Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dursun
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gumussuyu Military Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cetin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012913:Snoring / Q000601:surgery*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: anterior palatoplasty; olfaction; primary snoring; taste; umami