[Sialendoscopy--learning curve and nation-wide survey in German ENT-departments]

Sialendoscopy is an established, minimal-invasive technique to diagnose and treat obstructive diseases of major salivary glands. Knowledge on learning curve and distribution in Germany is limited. MATERIAL UND METHODS: An 11 item questionnaire on Sialendoscopy was sent to all 159 German ent-hospitals. To determine the learning curve, all patients that underwent sialendoscopy during a 1-year-period after invention of sialendoscopy in our department were prospectively followed and evaluated.

Sialendoscopy is currently performed in a minority (24%) of ent-departments in Germany. Denial was justified by technical problems, a lack of cost-benefit and small number of patients in descending order. A significant reduction of intervention time (61.0 ± 32.7 min to 43.2 ± 33.6 min, p=0.013) and less frequent aborted operations were noted after comparison of the first vs. the second half amount of interventions as indicators of a learning curve. Complications were not found to be significantly raised in the first half of interventions.

The fact that sialendoscopy is provided in only a minority of ent-departments will in the future most likely be overcome by technical improvements. A learning curve has to be anticipated.