Salivary Gland Functional Recovery After Sialendoscopy

Objectives/hypothesis: To date, there has been no report on the salivary gland functional outcomes after sialendoscopic surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate salivary gland functional recovery after sialendoscopic management of obstructive salivary gland disease.

Study Design: A prospective, self-control study.

Methods: The present study was undertaken among patients scheduled for sialendoscopic surgery with unilateral salivary ductal obstructions. Glandular function was quantitatively assessed with the use of sialometry and scintigraphy preoperatively and at least 3 months postoperatively.

Results: A consecutive series of 17 patients were followed for 14 +/- 8 months. Sialendoscopic procedures included removal of calculi in 15 cases and dilatation of stenosis in two cases. All patients were free of symptoms during follow-up. Before surgery, there was a significant decline in the resting and stimulated saliva flow rate, uptake index, and excretion fraction of the obstructive glands compared with the contralateral normal glands. Postoperatively, although the degrees of functional recovery varied in individuals, statistical analysis revealed that the glandular function increased significantly in the affected glands and had no differences when compared to the contralateral glands.

Conclusions: These data provide a unique functional assessment after sialendoscopic surgery. Our results demonstrate that sialendoscopy is an organ-preserving surgical approach which can achieve satisfactory functional recovery in the management of salivary ductal obstructions.