The effect of laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty on the sense of smell and taste

Aim: To assess the effect, if any, of Laser Assisted Uvulo Palatoplasty (LAUP) on the sense of smell and taste. Materials and Methods: A prospective study examined 33 patients undergoing LAUP for snoring. Significant sinonasal pathology was excluded in all patients by a complete examination including rigid nasal endoscopy. None of the cases had any systemic illness or drug history that was likely to affect the sense of smell or taste. Twenty patients were male and five female. The mean age was 44 years (range, 25-67). Twelve patients (36%) were regular smokers, and eight patients (24%) were ex-smokers all of whom reported a change in smell and taste after stopping. Preoperative assessment utilised a visual analogue score of smell and taste perception, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) for the assessment of olfaction (maximum score of 40), and whole mouth testing for. solutions of NaCl, sucrose, quinine, citric acid and acetic acid LA UP technique was standardised for each case and reassessment was performed 3 months postoperatively. Results: Three patients failed to complete the study and were excluded. The mean values for visual analogue score pre and post surgery were 9.1 and 8.9 respectively, which was not significant using Wilcoxan Rank test (P = 0.257). The mean value of the UPSIT scores before surgery were 32.2 (+4.0), range, 24-39, and after surgery 31.2 (+4.3), range 20-37. There was no significant difference in pre and post UPSIT scores (p = 0.068). Whole mouth taste testing had a preoperative mean value of 4.1 and a postoperative value of 4.2. The difference was not statistically significant, Wilcoxan Rank test (p = 0.317). Conclusion: In this study there was no significant change in the patients' perception of smell and taste or in their objective measurement following a standardised Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty.