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CO2-Lasertonsillotomy Under Local Anesthesia in Adults
Published on: November 6, 2019
Taste disorders after tonsillectomy: a long-term follow-up
Clemens Heiser1, Basile N Landis, Roland Giger
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany. hno@heiser-online.com
The Laryngoscope
|March 31, 2012
Summary
Taste disturbances after tonsillectomy are infrequent long-term. Only 0.9% of patients experienced taste issues 32 months post-surgery, indicating a low incidence of persistent dysgeusia.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Surgical Outcomes
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Previous studies indicated a higher-than-expected incidence of taste disturbances following tonsillectomy.
- Eight percent of patients reported subjective taste disorders six months after the procedure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term persistence of taste disturbances after tonsillectomy.
- To provide accurate data on the prevalence of dysgeusia following this common surgical procedure.
Main Methods:
- A long-term follow-up was conducted on 15 patients from a previous study who reported taste disorders post-tonsillectomy.
- Telephone interviews using a standardized questionnaire evaluated self-estimated taste function at an average of 32 months after surgery.
Main Results:
- At 32 ± 10 months post-surgery, only two patients (0.9%) reported persistent taste disturbances.
- This indicates a significant resolution of taste issues in the majority of patients over time.
Conclusions:
- Long-term taste disturbance (dysgeusia) following tonsillectomy is rare, affecting approximately 1% of patients.
- These findings are crucial for informed consent discussions regarding potential complications of tonsillectomy.
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