An experimental study of bilateral repositioning of the Stensen's duct orifices with autologous vein and artery grafts in dogs

Reconstruction of parotid duct defect with autologous vein graft and vascular coupler after buccal mucosa cancer resection

The distal end of parotid duct is often inevitably resected en-block with the buccal mucosa cancer to obtain safety margin and prevent local recurrence. Ligation of duct frequently causes complications like cheek swelling, fistula and gland function loss. The authors describe a novel procedure of combined use of autologous vein graft and vascular coupler to reconstruct the parotid duct defect for buccal mucosa cancer patients who undergo radical neck dissection and free-flap reconstruction, no lumen-stent or cannula is needed. Case examples are shown to illustrate the operative details and different outcomes for two kinds of orifice site choices. Key factors for success include the proper use of Coupler device, right choice of new orifice location and maintenance of lumen patency. For buccal mucosa cancer patients, this novel method for parotid duct reconstruction could effectively reduce postoperative complications and preserve the parotid gland function.

Open Approaches to Stensen Duct Scar

Duct scar in the form of stenoses or stricture is the second leading cause of obstructive sialadenitis after stone. Over the past decade, there has been a growing experience demonstrating the effectiveness of endoscopic techniques in the minimally invasive management of salivary duct stenosis. Less information, however, is available with regard to open approaches for recurrent or complex ductal stenoses. This article reports on a case of gland preservation using an open ductal technique that originally was applied in cases of traumatic Stensen's duct injury.

Drooling of saliva: A review of the etiology and management options

Drooling of saliva appears to be the consequence of a dysfunction in the coordination of the swallowing mechanism, resulting in excess pooling of saliva in the anterior portion of the oral cavity and the unintentional loss of saliva from the mouth. Drooling can produce significant negative effects on physical health and quality of life, especially in patients with chronic neurological disabilities. Various approaches to manage this condition have been described in the literature, including oral motor therapy, behavior modification via biofeedback, orofacial regulation therapy, drug therapy, radiotherapy, and surgical treatments. Minimally invasive modalities, such as injection of botulinum toxin, photocoagulation, and acupuncture, have also been reported. This article provides a comprehensive and thorough overview of drooling, with an emphasis on understanding its etiologies and modalities of treatment.

Bilateral parotid-duct diversion using autologous vein grafts for the management of chronic drooling in cerebral palsy

Chronic drooling is a major problem in patients with cerebral palsy and other neurological dysfunctions. Various treatments, ranging from speech therapy to radical surgery, have been used to overcome this distressing problem, with surgery the most consistently successful. In this study, we used a new surgical technique to manage severe drooling. This involved the dissection of both parotid-duct orifices, and their relocation, via a submucosal tunnel, into the tonsillar pillar using autologous vein grafts. Four patients were treated using this technique together with bilateral submandibular duct rerouting. The results were analysed by subjective judgements of drooling and retrograde sialography at 90 days postoperatively. In all cases, salivary flow was reduced and drooling was significantly improved. Retrograde sialography revealed no signs of obstruction or stricture formation in any of the cases. No postoperative complications occurred. These preliminary results suggest that the bilateral surgical transposition of Stensen's ducts into the tonsillar pillar using autologous vein grafts together with bilateral submandibular duct rerouting can provide effective control of chronic drooling.