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The medium to long-term effects of two-duct ligation for excessive drooling in neurodisabilities, a cross-sectional
Stijn Bekkers1, Sanne de Bock1, Karen van Hulst2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Objectives:
This study aims to evaluate the medium to long-term (1-12 years) effectiveness of two-duct ligation (2-DL) in patients with nonprogressive neurodisabilities.
Methods:
Main outcomes included a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Drooling Severity (DS) and Drooling Frequency (DF), collected at baseline, 32 weeks postintervention and 1-12 years postintervention. Secondary outcomes were adverse events (AEs), and satisfaction.
Results:
Forty-two patients were analyzed (mean age 17 years, mean baseline VAS 82). VAS decreased significantly from baseline to long-term (n = 30. Mean difference -36.5, CI -47.0 to -26.0, p ≤ 0.001; -26.1, CI -36.2 to -15.9, p ≤ 0.001). However, long-term VAS significantly increased compared to VAS at 32 weeks (+10.4, CI 1.0-19.8, p = 0.031). Out of 42 patients, 64% would recommend 2-DL to peers.
Conclusion:
There is a significant subjective 2-DL effect on drooling severity in the medium to long-term as reported by patients and caregivers, but there is also a certain degree of recurrence in this time span, and 33% of the patients required subsequent treatment. However, the majority of patients and/or caregivers would recommend 2-DL to peers.
