title: Efficacy of relocation of submandibular duct in cerebral palsy patients with drooling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The efficacy of relocating the submandibular duct to treat drooling in children with cerebral palsy was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study to assess, using a visual analogue score by the parents of the patients, the efficacy of relocating the submandibular duct to treat drooling, comparing pre- and postoperative drooling. Complications were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight children were included in this study. Their mean age was 9.75 years (range, 6-14 years). Seven patients (87.5%) had significant reduction of drooling (from a score of > or = 7 before surgery to < or = 2 after surgery). All the parents of the eight children (100%) were happy with the outcome and would recommend the procedure to the parents of other children. Mean length of hospital stay was 4 days (range, 2-7 days). Three patients developed complications; one patient developed ranula 1 month postoperatively. This was successfully treated by marsupialization. Two patients developed bilateral submandibular sialoadenitis 3 days postoperatively, which resolved with antibiotic therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that this procedure is effective and safe in reducing drooling in patients with cerebral palsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Periyanan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puraviappan
authors.forename: Dipak Banarsi
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Dass
authors.forename: Prepageran
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Narayanan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome