Tp. Odwyer et Bj. Conlon, THE SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF DROOLING - A 15 YEAR FOLLOW-UP, Clinical otolaryngology and allied sciences, 22(3), 1997, pp. 284-287
Drooling is rarely seen in the normal child after the age of 6 months,
but an estimated 10% of children with neurological impairment suffer
significant interference with everyday living due to excessive droolin
g. Submandibular duct relocation is a procedure that involves the diss
ection and re-routing of the submandibular ducts to the posterior tons
illar pillar. This procedure has been carried out on 53 patients over
the past 15 years at the Childrens Hospital, Dublin. All patients have
been followed up with a detailed questionnaire to determine symptomat
ic improvement. parent satisfaction and complications. Parental satisf
action regarding this procedure is high, with 94% of parents stating t
hat their child had benefited from the operation and over half the par
ents reported complete cessation of all drooling within 3 months of th
e operation. The major complication of post-operative pneumonia presum
ed secondary to salivary aspiration occurred in three children. These
patients all made a full recovery. Early minor complications occurred
in two children. involving post-operative submandibular gland swelling
, and the late complication of a ranula was seen in four patients. We
believe this is a safe and highly successful procedure that can signif
icantly improve the quality of life of these children.