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DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1640938
Analysis of taste in patients with eustachian tube dysfunction
Introduction:
Non treated Eustachian tube dysfunction might result in chronic middle ear diseases. A possible treatment option for this pathology is the balloon dilatation of the eustachian tube. The primary aim of this work was to analyze whether the taste function in ETD is already impaired. Furthermore, possible changes of the taste function after balloon dilatation of the eustachian tube were analyzed.
Methods:
Analysis included 26 patients (= 56 ears) by means of the validated taste strips. Taste measurements were performed preoperatively and in mean 51 ± 22 days after balloon dilatation in 20 patients (76%).
Results:
Compared to normative data patients' baseline taste function (summed taste score 12.4 ± 2.3 versus 9.8 ± 3.5; p = 0.002) was significantly impaired. After balloon dilatation of the Eustachian tube, the taste function remained stable (summed taste score 9.4 ± 4.3) (p = 0.814).
Conclusions:
This work suggests, that patients suffering from ETD exhibit reduced taste scores. Gustatory function does not seem to be influenced by balloon dilatation of the Eustachian tube though.
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No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).
Publication History
Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)
© 2018. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York