title: Factors influencing sialocele or salivary fistula formation postparotidectomy.
abstract: Does the extent of parotidectomy or other patient or tumor characteristics influence the rate of sialocele/salivary fistula formation?
  
  
  
  All patients who underwent parotidectomy at the University of Wisconsin from 1994 to 2013 were considered. Patients who developed a sialocele/salivary fistula were identified. Extent of dissection, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), volume of specimen, and rate of malignancy were examined.
  
  
  
  Seventy of 771 patients (9.1%) developed a sialocele/salivary fistula. Sixty-seven fistulae (96%) developed within 1 month and all resolved by 6 months. Age, sex, pathology, and BMI were not increased in the sialocele group. Inferior and middle superficial parotidectomy had a significantly higher rate of sialocele than other extents of dissection. Volume of tissue removed was not significantly different between dissection groups.
  
  
  
  Sialocele/salivary fistula is common postparotidectomy and is more likely with inferior and middle superficial parotidectomy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 387-391, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Britt
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gessert
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Zach
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pflum
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Gregory K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Hartig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012467:Salivary Gland Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
keywords: parotidectomy; postoperative complications; salivary fistula; sialocele