Surgery of the major salivary glands and its impact on salivary flow: A review
Burghartz, M., Hackenberg, S., Sittel, C., & Hagen, R. (2018). The Laryngoscope. PubMed.
* This is a systematic review, which summarizes existing literature to answer a question on a particular topic. Review articles condense the findings of relevant research so that readers can learn about a topic without having to read all the published works in the field.
Here are some relevant terms we learned from this article:
The review looked at eight studies that examined salivary flow post partial or full resectioning of the major salivary glands due to malignant and/or benign tumors. The method of data collection and saliva stimulation differed from each study. Postoperative reduction of saliva flow was reported across all studies, of which five studies reported xerostomia. Seven of the studies found unstimulated (at rest) and stimulated salivary flow to be reduced. Two studies found evidence of a compensatory process, however more research needs to be done on the appearance and effect of this mechanism.
Overall, as salivary gland surgery leads to reduced salivary flow and possible xerostomia, head and neck surgeons should inform patients about the side-effects. Conservative and minimally invasive techniques should be recommended whenever possible. Surgeons may preserve as much of the salivary gland as they can in order to reduce side-effects and risks. Surgeons should also be aware of prescription history when recommending surgery as there are a variety of medications known to influence salivary flow. Checks for xerostomia should be done pre- and postoperatively to assess risk for effects.
Possible questions to ask your doctor:
Reference: Burghartz, M., Hackenberg, S., Sittel, C., & Hagen, R. (2018). Surgery of the major salivary glands and its impact on salivary flow-A review. The Laryngoscope. doi:10.1002/lary.27587
Summary written by Avery Singson; Edited by Wendy Liang | July 24, 2020
* This is a systematic review, which summarizes existing literature to answer a question on a particular topic. Review articles condense the findings of relevant research so that readers can learn about a topic without having to read all the published works in the field.
Here are some relevant terms we learned from this article:
- Xerostomia: dry mouth due to reduced or absent salivary flow
- Major salivary glands: submandibular, parotid, and sublingual glands
- Dysphagia: difficulty swallowing
- Dysgeusia: distorted sense of taste, also known as parageusia
- Caries: tooth decay
The review looked at eight studies that examined salivary flow post partial or full resectioning of the major salivary glands due to malignant and/or benign tumors. The method of data collection and saliva stimulation differed from each study. Postoperative reduction of saliva flow was reported across all studies, of which five studies reported xerostomia. Seven of the studies found unstimulated (at rest) and stimulated salivary flow to be reduced. Two studies found evidence of a compensatory process, however more research needs to be done on the appearance and effect of this mechanism.
Overall, as salivary gland surgery leads to reduced salivary flow and possible xerostomia, head and neck surgeons should inform patients about the side-effects. Conservative and minimally invasive techniques should be recommended whenever possible. Surgeons may preserve as much of the salivary gland as they can in order to reduce side-effects and risks. Surgeons should also be aware of prescription history when recommending surgery as there are a variety of medications known to influence salivary flow. Checks for xerostomia should be done pre- and postoperatively to assess risk for effects.
Possible questions to ask your doctor:
- What salivary gland is being impacted during my surgery?
- How much saliva production is that gland responsible for?
- How will reducing it’s flow rate affect the other salivary glands?
- Are there any less invasive procedures that are options?
- How will reduced salivary flow affect my everyday life?
- Do(es) the medication(s) I’m on affect saliva production? How will it/they impact salivary flow after the surgery?
- What are some recommendations for combating xerostomia, or post-surgery side effects?
- Will I be undergoing checks for xerostomia before and after the surgery?
- What does recovery look like?
- Does this surgery put me at risk for needing more procedures and complications in the future?
Reference: Burghartz, M., Hackenberg, S., Sittel, C., & Hagen, R. (2018). Surgery of the major salivary glands and its impact on salivary flow-A review. The Laryngoscope. doi:10.1002/lary.27587
Summary written by Avery Singson; Edited by Wendy Liang | July 24, 2020