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Gross Olfaction Before and After Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

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Abstract

Background

Obesity leads to olfaction alterations, and this can further impact food choices, appetite, and nutritional status. Bariatric procedures induce weight loss and change in taste and smell perception, but more information is needed, especially using objective olfaction tests.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted during 6 months, with candidates to laparoscopic gastric bypass at a single institution. A preoperative nasofibroscopy and gross smell identification test (The Pocket Smell Test ®) were performed in those meeting the inclusion criteria. After 6 months, a new test was performed, and the primary objective was to determine if there was an improvement in the olfaction score. Weight loss and comorbidities improvement were also analyzed.

Results

From the 30 patients with morbid obesity enrolled, 21 met the inclusion criteria and ENT evaluation. At baseline, 42.8% of patients scored 3 points, 53.3% scored 2 points, and 4.7% scored 1 point. After 6 months, there was a −81.1% of change. Seventeen patients scored 3 points (p = 0.002 vs initial) and two scored 2 points (p = 0.006 vs initial). There were no patients with less than 2 points. Weight and comorbidities had a significant improvement as well.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic gastric bypass improves the olfaction scores of the Pocket Smell Test in morbidly obese patients 6 months after their procedure. More complex tests can be used in candidates to bariatric surgery if low scores are detected initially. Other causes of olfaction dysfunctions should be determined if there is no improvement after weight loss.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Obesity Clinic at Hospital General Tláhuac, Villa Centroamericana y del Caribe, Delegación Tláhuac, Avenida la Turba # 655, Col, 13250, Mexico City, Mexico

    Carlos Zerrweck, Elisa Sepúlveda & Lizbeth Guilber

  2. Ear, nose and throat Clinic at Hospital General Tláhuac, Mexico City, Mexico

    Vannia Castañeda Gallardo

  3. Bariatric Nutrition Department at Hospital Angeles Tijuana. BCN, Mexico City, Mexico

    Carmen Calleja

Authors
  1. Carlos Zerrweck
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  2. Vannia Castañeda Gallardo
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  3. Carmen Calleja
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  4. Elisa Sepúlveda
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  5. Lizbeth Guilber
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos Zerrweck.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Zerrweck, C., Gallardo, V.C., Calleja, C. et al. Gross Olfaction Before and After Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass. OBES SURG 27, 2988–2992 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-2733-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-2733-3

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