When Is Parotidectomy Recommended?

By Michal Alberts


Today, undergoing a surgical procedure is so common that people become used to it more than ever before. With the help of modern tools for diagnosis, lumps can now be easily removed, thus preventing them from triggering deadly medical conditions. And the parotid gland is no exemption to it.

But "what is parotid?" Among the various types of salivary glands, parotid is the largest and it is found in front of the ear. Most patients who undergo a parotid surgery need to remove a tumor, get treated from a severe infection, or remove foreign objects that obstruct the saliva flow. Majority of parotid patients have benign growths that have been a result of other illnesses, sinus infections or cough. However, there are also instances where malignant tumors can affect the parotid.

And even though most of the lumps are harmless, doctors still recommend parotidectomy to prevent the lumps from getting fatal. Besides, the swelling can affect the shape of the face when it grows bigger. And when it grows bigger, the more difficult it is to remove.

Parotidectomy is conducted under general anesthesia. This signifies that the patient is asleep during the procedure. Then the surgeon will place a drain through the patient's skin to get rid of blood clot. It usually takes up to two days before the surgeon deems it fit to remove the tube.

While parotidectomy is generally considered a safe procedure, there are still potential complications involved as with all other surgeries. Such complications include post-operative bleeding, facial weakness, facial indentation, blood clot, numbness of the face and ear, possible return of the tumor, salivary collection, and Frey's Syndrome, or the redness and sweating on the cheek area next to the ear.

The possible risks associated in this surgery are minimal. That is why most of the time surgeons recommend parotidectomy than not having the tumor removed. Besides, most of the complications are only temporary so there's really nothing to worry about those minor inconveniences after the surgery. But as always, it's important to talk to your doctor when the pain caused by post-surgical inconveniences becomes difficult to ignore.




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