Surgical complications of submandibular gland excision.
OBJECTIVE
Submandibular gland excision is the treatment of choice in chronic pathology resistant to medical treatments or in oncological cases. The aim of this study was to analyse its current postoperative complications.


METHODS
Retrospective study on submandibular gland excisions performed at our University Hospital between 2004 and 2010.


RESULTS
A total of 29 submandibular gland excisions were performed: 44.8% (13) for chronic sialadenitis, 37.9% (11) for salivary gland neoplasm and 17.2% (5) for adjacent tumours. Median length of hospital stay was 2 days. Complications were more common after gland excision due to inflammatory causes. There were only 2 cases of paralysis of the marginal facial nerve branch (6.8%); 1 was due to neoplastic pathology and 1, from inflammatory pathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite marginal facial nerve paresis being one of the most relevant issues after submandibular gland excision, this type of surgery is a safe technique in our experience.
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, España. monicahernandoc@hotmail.com
Monica
M
Hernando
Rosa Maria
RM
Echarri
Muhammad
M
Taha
Luz
L
Martin-Fragueiro
Ana
A
Hernando
Guillermo Plaza
GP
Mayor
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D013364:Submandibular Gland Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013365:Submandibular Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult