How is a salivary fistula treated?

Sialocele and salivary fistula can frequently be managed nonoperatively with antibiotics, pressure dressings, and serial aspiration. Anticholinergic medications and the injection of botulinum toxin represent additional measures before resorting to surgical therapies such as tympanic neurectomy or parotidectomy.

What is Sialadenitis?

A salivary gland infection is also called sialadenitis and is caused by bacteria or viruses. A salivary stone or other blockage of the salivary gland duct can contribute to an acute infection. Chronic inflammation of a salivary gland can cause it to stop functioning.

What is parotid fistula?

A parotid fistula is a communication between the skin and a parotid duct or gland through which saliva is discharged. The most common cause of the parotid fistula is trauma.

What causes Sialolith?

First, dehydration and poor eating habits are considered culprits that can lead to the formation of salivary duct stones. Not drinking enough fluids can make your saliva more concentrated and not eating enough can cause a reduction in your saliva production, forming salivary duct stones.

What is the difference between sinus and fistula?

A fistula is an abnormal passage between a hollow organ and the skin surface, or between two hollow organs¹. “A wound sinus is a discharging blind-ended tract that extends from the surface of an organ to an underlying area or abscess cavity”.

How is parotid gland surgery done?

The parotid gland is removed under a general anaesthetic (you are asleep during the operation). The procedure will take approximately 1 to 2 hours. It involves a cut immediately in front of the ear and extending to the upper part of the neck. The cut will be made in a crease in the skin of the neck to hide the scar.

Why is sialadenitis common in parotid gland?

Sialadenitis is most commonly due to bacterial infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Other bacteria which can cause the infections include include streptococci, coliforms, and various anaerobic bacteria. Although less common than bacteria, several viruses have also been implicated in sialadenitis.

What is the parotid?

The parotid gland is one of the major salivary glands. These glands make saliva. This is the watery substance used to lubricate your mouth and start the digestion process. The parotid gland wraps around the back of your lower jaw. From there, saliva travels through a tube called the parotid duct.

Can a sinus fistula heal on its own?

In the absence of any infection of maxillary sinus, the defects which are smaller than 2 mm can heal spontaneously following the blood clot formation and secondary healing.

Can a sinus infection cause a fistula?

Besides the mechanical and iatrogenic factors, chronic or specific infections may cause sinus perforation and oroantral fistula formation. Chronic infection of necrotic teeth or maxillary sinusitis may lead to bone resorption and communication between maxillary sinuses and the oral cavity.

What is the clinical presentation of a parotid sialocele?

The clinical presentation includes that of a painless swelling around the parotid gland or duct and may be complicated by fistula formation and infection. 3 Though parotid sialoceles and fistulas are two different clinical entities, a parotid sialocele may progress to a parotid fistula.

How is sialocele and parotid fistula treated?

The management of parotid fistulae and sialocele has been controversial. The surgical techniques can be classified as those that divert parotid secretions into the mouth and those that depress parotid secretion either by ductal ligation or nerve sectioning.

What causes a fistula in the parotid gland?

Deeper part of residual parotid tissues will continually secrete saliva and accumulates as sialocele. When secretion is more than capacity of drainage via normal Stenson’s duct, fistula forms.

Is it possible to get a parotid fistula after surgery?

Parotid fistulae have been reported following surgery in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region, parotidectomy or secondary to drainage of facial/parotid abscess, and the incidence reported is as high as 14%.