Complications after parotid gland surgery Our experience

Complications after parotid surgery include deficit of the facial nerve, wound complications, as sialocele and salivary fistula, and Frey syndrome; the goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the type of parotid surgery performed and the incidence of each of these complications.

A total of 184 patients were evaluated and 158 were included in the study. Four different kinds of intervention were made: extracapsular dissection, partial superficial parotidectomy; superficial parotidectomy and total parotidectomy. The incidence of each complication was studied and correlated to the type of surgery performed. Statistical analysis was done using the chi-square test of independence.

From all cases examined, 86 patients developed facial nerve complications with 59 minor asymmetry, 19 partial weakness and 8 complete weakness. Forty patients had wound complications, 28 sialocele and 12 salivary fistula. Sixteen patients developed Frey syndrome.

Facial nerve complications and Frey syndrome were significantly related to superficial or total parotidectomy, differently extracapsular dissection and partial superficial parotidectomy had more cases of wound complications.

The kind of complications that occur after parotid surgery depends on surgery performed. Chi-square test has a statistically significant result and confirms this kind of relationship (P <.0001).

Facial nerve, Parotid glands, Parotidectomy.