Outcomes of submandibular duct re-implantation for sialorrhoea

Drooling is an important factor affecting the quality of lives of neurologi cally impaired children, and surgery often has to be performed. Submandibul ar duct relocation is a relatively simple procedure with a low complication rate, and has been carried out on 37 patients at the Sheffield Children's Hospital between 1986 and 1998. To determine the short-term and long-term o utcome of this procedure, a questionnaire was sent to the parents/wards of the patients. Feedback was also obtained on complications, parents'/carers' perceptions and main concerns about the operation, particularly in those c ases which did not improve. Both short-term (82.4%) and long-term (76.5%) c ontrol rates were high, and there were few complications, none of which had any long-term adverse effects. The most significant area of parental/carer dissatisfaction and concern in 'failed' cases was 'pain', and it was felt that proper preoperative counselling about analgesia and chances of failure is very important. We conclude that this is a safe, highly successful proc edure which significantly improves the quality of lives of the majority of drooling children.