LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF SALIVA-CONTROL SURGERY

Thirty-nine patients who had undergone transposition of the submandibu lar ducts and unilateral ligation of a parotid duct for saliva control were followed up six years after surgery. Overall improvement was doc umented according to a drooling quotient, drooling severity and drooli ng frequency measures. Despite this superficially favourable outcome, a significant proportion of patients (39 per cent) or their caregivers had not found the surgery helpful. Complications included ranula form ation, complaints of dry mouth, difficulty with swallowing, and change s in the consistency of oral secretions. More knowledge is needed of t he likely outcomes of this procedure in individual patients, so that a ppropriate advice can be given and complications minimised.