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Taste disturbance after mastoid surgery: immediate and long-term effects of chorda tympani nerve sacrifice

E Kiverniti^a1 c1 and G Watters^a1

^a1 ENT Department, Southend University Hospital, Essex, UK

Abstract

Objective: To determine the immediate and long-term taste effects of chorda tympani nerve sacrifice in patients undergoing open cavity mastoidectomy.

Design, setting and participants: A retrospective, questionnaire survey of patients receiving follow up and aural toilet following open cavity mastoidectomy, over a four-month period. The questionnaire assessed taste disturbance, both immediately post-operative and current. Available surgical records were reviewed for chorda tympani references.

Results: Of 57 patients, six had undergone surgery to both ears. Of those who could recall (37/57), 24.3 per cent were aware of taste disturbance immediately after surgery, while 8.7 per cent reported current disturbance (median post-operative interval, 28.5 years; range, one month to 67 years). No bilateral surgery patients were aware of taste disturbance.

Conclusion: Mastoidectomy consent procedure emphasises the risk of hearing loss and facial nerve injury, yet in open cavity surgery chorda tympani division is almost inevitable. Reassuringly, most post-operative taste disturbance resolves, and most patients are not aware of long-term disturbance. However, a small percentage suffer ongoing taste disturbance; this could be significant for professional chefs and wine-tasters. The risk of taste disturbance should be addressed in the consent procedure.

(Accepted May 17 2011)

(Online publication October 28 2011)

Key words

• Chorda Tympani;
• Mastoidectomy;
• Ear, Middle;
• Complications;
• Taste

Correspondence:

^c1 Address for correspondence: Ms E Kiverniti, 11 Clan McDonald House, 47 Bramhope Lane, London SE7 7FH, UK E-mail: ekiverniti@yahoo.co.uk

Presented at the Entex Short Papers Meeting, Section of Otology, Royal Society of Medicine, 5th February 2010, London, UK

Ms E Kiverniti takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Competing interests: None declared