Four-duct ligation in children with drooling

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Excessive drooling (sialorrhea) negatively impacts a child's quality of life.
• Surgical interventions are considered for refractory cases of pediatric sialorrhea.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the 4-duct ligation procedure in reducing drooling in children.
• To assess the impact of this intervention on the quality of life for affected children.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, nonrandomized interventional study involving 30 children aged 4-15 years.
• The procedure involved ligation of bilateral submandibular and parotid ducts.
• Drooling severity was assessed using the Thomas-Stonell and Greenberg classification, and quality of life was measured by the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory Score.

Main Results:

• A high success rate of 93.33% in improving drooling was observed.
• Significant reduction in drooling scores (P < .001) and improved quality of life (mean GCBI score 36.15) were noted.
• A complication rate of 16.67% was reported, including transient swelling and cheek abscess, which were effectively managed.

Conclusions:

• The 4-duct ligation procedure is a highly effective treatment for reducing excessive drooling in children.
• This intervention leads to a significant improvement in the quality of life for pediatric patients with sialorrhea.
• The procedure is associated with a low rate of manageable complications.