Complications of Sialendoscopy in Patients With Sjögren Syndrome

Recent literature suggests that sialendoscopy of the major salivary glands could alleviate symptoms of Sjögren syndrome (SS) and restore salivary function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the authors' experience of sialendoscopy of the salivary glands in patients with SS.

In this retrospective case series study, the surgical data of patients with SS who had undergone sialendoscopy at the VU University Medical Center (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) from November 2014 through April 2015 were used. Outcome measurements were successful entry to the salivary gland and completion of sialendoscopy as planned. Furthermore, pre- and postoperative complications were scored. Descriptive analysis of the data was performed.

Surgical data of sialoendoscopic procedures in 26 patients with SS (24 women and 2 men; mean age, 57 yr; range, 27 to 72 yr) were analyzed. Sialendoscopy was successfully performed in 78 of 104 salivary glands (75%; 50 parotid and 28 submandibular glands) in the 26 patients. Sialendoscopy failed in 26 of the 104 sialoendoscopic procedures (25%; 2 parotid and 24 submandibular glands). In 16 salivary glands, the ductal orifice could not be identified. In 7 salivary glands, sialendoscopy could not be performed because of partial or complete stenosis of the salivary duct. In 3 salivary glands, sialendoscopy was not performed because of a ductal perforation. Three patients developed a postoperative infection.

The overall rate of complications was limited and the sialoendoscopic complications in patients with SS could be regarded as minor. Most complications were seen for sialendoscopy of the submandibular glands in this specific patient category. Careful preoperative selection of patients and salivary glands could contribute to a lower rate of complications and more predictable results.