Partial parotidectomy under local anesthesia for benign parotid tumors - An experience of 50 cases

Benign parotid tumors are adequately treated with partial parotidectomy, which is often performed under general anesthesia (GA). We have reported our preliminary results on the feasibility to perform parotidectomy under local anesthesia (LA). We hereby present our accumulated experience of partial parotidectomy under LA to further consolidate its feasibility, efficacy and safety in a larger series.

Case series review was carried out using our own center patients' database. 50 patients with parotid tumors were treated with partial parotidectomy under LA, using a retrograde nerve dissection approach from January 2006 to October 2016. The inclusion criteria encompassed mobile parotid nodules primarily operated after non-suspicious fine-needle aspiration cytology. Their demographics, complications and outcomes were evaluated.

No procedure required conversion to GA. There were 48 benign tumors and 2 lymphomas based on the histopathologic examination. The commonest pathologies were pleomorphic adenoma (40%), Warthin's tumor (38%) and cyst (8%). The mean tumor size was 2.68 ± 1.5 cm and the mean operative time was 91.5 ± 34.7 min. Forty-two operations were done as day cases. Ten (20%) patients suffered from transient ear lobe numbness and two (4%) patients had sialocele. Transient facial palsy occurred in 2(4%) patients while another patient (2%) had persistent House-Brackmann grade II facial palsy. No tumor recurrence was noted during follow-up period.

Partial parotidectomy adopting a retrograde nerve dissection under LA is feasible and minimally invasive in treating benign parotid tumors. It can avoid the adverse effects of general anesthesia and promote day surgery or minimize hospital stay.