Morbidity of parotid gland surgery: results 1 year post-operative

Quality of life after surgery for benign disease of the parotid gland

Objective:

To evaluate quality of life after surgery for benign neoplastic disease of the parotid gland.

Patients and methods:

A quality of life questionnaire, which was created from the Hebrew version of the University of Washington Quality of Life prototype, was applied to 55 patients who underwent surgery for benign neoplastic parotid disease. All patients were examined in Baskent University Adana Teaching and Medical Research Center, where all except 10 subjects (who responded by phone) completed the quality of life questionnaire.

Results:

The highest overall score was 96.3 indicating no salivary fistula. Only one patient complained of salivary secretion through the wound scar. The lowest overall score was 59.5 indicating loss of sensation. Although no post-surgical pain was reported by 32 (58 per cent) patients, 16 (29 per cent) patients reported a post-surgical change in their appearance. Scarring and surgical site depression were reported by 26 (47 per cent) and 17 patients (30 per cent), respectively. Facial nerve impairment was reported by seven patients (13 per cent) during the early post-operative period; these patients recovered from that impairment. The only significant statistical correlations were noted between general health and gender, and between post-surgical pain and gender. There was not any statistical correlation between all data and age, tumour type and education level.

Conclusion:

The general status of patients who have undergone surgery for a benign parotid neoplasm can be assessed with a quality of life questionnaire. Patients' post-surgical quality of life can be improved by the correct choice of surgical approach and reconstructive method.