Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 1/26/2008

Question
On Wednesday evening, January 23 I had to undergo an emergency eye surgery (a victrectomy), under general anesthesia. With the exception of eye drops, I am on regime of meds: Aspirin and Persantine to keep my TTP in check.

Since the surgery, I have noticed a very sweet taste in my mouth. Also in sputum if I cough. My taste is altered for just about anything except dry toast. Any beverages that contain artificial sweeteners can not be tolerated at all. Slight nausea as well. No indication of anything like this before surgery.

So my question is have you or your readers ever heard of or experienced this particular side effect after general anesthesia?

Answer
I do not know of any relationship and the only reference I can find for this was a letter to the editor of the medical journal Anesthesiology from 1995 (Reference below) which basically states that there is little evidence to link the two but did not rule out the possibility. If you can get a copy of the article from your local library, it gives a little more detail about the subject.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Gavlveston

References:

Altered Taste and Smell after Anesthesia: Cause and Effect?Anesthesiology:Volume 83(3)September 1995 pp 647-648