Taste disturbance after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated factors that may attribute to taste disturbance (TD) following uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

STUDY

DESIGN

This longitudinal intervention study enrolled 108 patients who received UPPP for OSA. Patients who reported TD in the postoperative questionnaire were examined using the three-drop-method gustatory function test (GFT).

RESULTS

The GFT revealed that 5 patients (4.6%) reporting TD lost at least one of the four basic tastes 3 months after surgery. Deficiency of sweet sense was the most common type of TD (80%). The use of electrocautery for developing the uvulopalatal flap was the only significant predictor that may attribute to TD (odds ratio: 14.1). Repeating the GFT 9 months after operation showed a restoration of tastes in 4 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Development of the uvulopalatal flap using electrocautery may increase the likelihood of postoperative TD. Patients with taste disturbance after UPPP may eventually recover their taste function over time.

EBM RATING: C-4.