The identification and ligation of the parotid duct during parotidectomy.

Objective: The complication rates after parotidectomy were reported to be 13-29% and many techniques were implemented to decrease these post-parotidectomy complications.

Material and methods: Between August 2016 and June 2022, one hundred and twenty-five patients with parotid tumors had parotidectomy and ligation of the main parotid duct in the Department of Surgical Oncology, Oncology Center, Mansoura University with the observation of its effect on the postoperative outcomes.

Results: Superficial parotidectomy was performed in 87 (69.6%) patients, total parotidectomy in 31 (24.8%) patients, and quadrantectomy in 7 (5.6%) patients. The operative time was 130.76±51.5 min, and the blood loss was 81.32±45.02 mL. A suction drain was placed in 106 patients and a non-suction drain was used in 19 patients. Postoperative complications included facial nerve morbidity in 12% of the patients, bleeding in 1 patient, seroma in 5 patients, edema in 1 patient, wound gap in 1 patient, wound infection in 1 patient, and keloid in 1 patient.

Conclusion: The identification and ligation of the main parotid duct during parotidectomy has favorable impacts on the incidence of post-parotidectomy complications such as salivary fistula, seroma, sialocele, and wound infections.