Study on Complications of Parotidectomy in 6-Year Experience

Parotid surgery accompany with complications including facial nerve paresis, cosmetic deformities, gustatory sweating syndrome, salivary fistula, wound hematoma and infection. The aim of this study was to review an individual surgeon’s experience of parotidectomy and to evaluate its complications.

In a retrospective and descriptive analytical study, fifty patients with parotid tumor over six year (2000-2006) period were operated and evaluated considering early and late complications.

Fifty patients were recruited in this study; 24 (48%) males and 26 (52%) females. Thirteen patients underwent total parotidectomy (7 patients with benign tumor and 6 patients with malignant tumor). The remaining was under superficial parotidectomy. Post-operative complications included transient facial paresis (8%), gustatory sweating syndrome (12%), salivary fistulae and sialoceles (4%), hematoma (2%) and flap necrosis (2%). Wound infection and permanent facial nerve weakness were not observed in the present study. All the cases of gustatory sweating syndrome (Frey’s syndrome) were in benign disease group.

Despite lack of nerve stimulator during the surgery, the frequency of facial nerve weakness was low, compared to the previous studies. Therefore surgical technique plays major role in controlling the parotidectomy complications including facial nerve paresis.