Prospective Observational Study on Perioperative Dysgeusia and Trace Metal Elements in Patients Undergoing...

This study aimed to evaluate the nature of perioperative dysgeusia and its associated factors in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).

Perioperative dysgeusia is an unfavorable symptom associated with malnutrition.

The Taste Alteration Survey and Trace Elements in patients undergoing PD (TASTE-PD) study was a single-center prospective observational study performed between April 2021 and September 2022. Dysgeusia was evaluated using a questionnaire administered to 100 patients undergoing PD during hospitalization. A blood examination was also performed for the detection of trace metal elements. Statistical analyses were performed between patients with and without preoperative dysgeusia and between those with and without postoperative dysgeusia.

Thirty-three (33%) patients experienced dysgeusia during hospitalization (11 with preoperative dysgeusia and 22 with postoperative dysgeusia). Preoperative albumin (3.7 vs 3.9 g/dL, P = 0.040) and hemoglobin levels (11.6 vs 12.4 g/dL, P = 0.029) were significantly lower in the patients with preoperative dysgeusia than in those without. Comparing patients with and without postoperative dysgeusia, those with dysgeusia were significantly older (73 vs 68 years, P = 0.007), and their serum iron levels referenced to the preoperative levels were significantly decreased on postoperative day 1 (20.5% vs 24.4%, P = 0.039), with insufficient recovery by postoperative day 14 (27.4% vs 44.0%, P = 0.020).

One-third of the patients experienced dysgeusia. Hypoalbuminemia and anemia were associated with preoperative dysgeusia, and advanced age and insufficient iron recovery were associated with postoperative dysgeusia. Further studies will be conducted to evaluate the impact of iron supplementation for improving dysgeusia and postoperative nutritional status.