Major salivary gland defunctionalization surgery in massive sialorrhea

Abstract

Introduction: Massive Sialorrhea is the involuntary loss of saliva from the mouth, either due to excessive saliva production or decreased swallowing frequency. We speak of patho- logical sialorrhea when it persists beyond 4 years old. In addition to the social implica- tions and frequent clothing changes. It can cause aspiration pneumonia and dehydration. Treatment for sialorrhea requires a comprehensive evaluation with a multidisciplinary team approach. Including non-pharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical therapies. Aim: Presentation of the results of surgical defunctionalization of the salivary glands plus injection of Botulinum Toxin in the treatment of massive sialorrhea. Material and Me- thod: A review of the clinical records of 7 patients with massive sialorrhea was carried out. All included patients were refractory to medical treatment. The diagnosis was obtained by a multidisciplinary team. Surgical and pharmacological dysfunctionalization of salivary glands was performed. Severity Scale (DSS) and Frequency Scale (DFS) were applied before surgery and after the procedure up to a year. Results: Subjective clinical improvement after surgical defunctionalization with decreased SHD and DFS. Average decrease in bibs to 10/ day. Conclusion: The evaluated strategy presented similar benefits with respect to the li- terature. The SHD and DFS scales and the number of bibs per day are both subjective and objective measurements, respectively, and allow the clinical improvement and quality of life of patients undergoing surgery to be evaluated individually.