A sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that a surgeon can use to diagnose and treat a variety of issues with the salivary glands.
The salivary glands produce saliva and pass it into the mouth through openings known as ducts. There are hundreds of minor salivary glands and three major glands that help to moisten the mouth.
Saliva is essential for many different reasons. These include helping to lubricate and swallow food, neutralize harmful acids, kill germs, prevent bad breath, and defend against tooth decay and gum disease.
There are several different types of surgery to treat issues with the salivary glands. A person may require surgery if they have stones, blockages, or tumors in the salivary glands. A sialendoscopy is a type of surgical procedure that can help diagnose and treat salivary gland issues.
A sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that can diagnose and treat issues with the salivary glands including salivary gland stones, a narrowing of the salivary gland ducts, salivary gland infections, swelling of the salivary glands following cancer treatment, and tumors in the salivary glands.
A sialendoscopy involves inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end down the throat, through the salivary gland ducts, into the salivary glands.
There are several reasons a person may require a sialendoscopy, including:
- Removing salivary gland stones: Hardened deposits can form inside the salivary glands, which can cause blockages and prevent saliva from flowing freely. Salivary gland stones can lead to pain, inflammation, infection, and inflammatory salivary gland disease.
- Clearing and opening salivary gland strictures: Narrowing can occur within the salivary glands, preventing saliva from flowing freely. It can lead to pain, inflammation, infection, a buildup of mucus behind the narrowing, and inflammatory salivary gland disease.
- Identifying infections: If a person has a blockage in a salivary gland, a doctor may request a sialendoscopy to examine the gland and possibly identify an infection.
- Treating sialadenitis: Cancer treatment of the salivary glands can cause a reduction in saliva, which may lead to inflammation and dry mouth.
- Examining salivary gland tumors: A sialendoscopy can help a surgeon examine benign or cancerous tumors within the salivary glands.
A surgeon
A sialendoscopy typically takes a maximum of 45 minutes to one hour.
The surgeon will first administer local or general anesthetic, before placing the microendoscope into the mouth and through the natural opening of the salivary gland.
A microendoscope is a long, very thin, flexible tube. This tube will have a camera and light to help guide the surgeon. The microendoscope may also have other attachments. These
- a wire basket to remove items such as stones
- an irrigation channel to flush out fragments or administer medication
- a balloon to inflate a narrowing
Once the microendoscope is in place, a surgeon can use the irrigation channel to flush the drainage tubes of the salivary gland. This helps the surgeon to assess the tubes for any stones, tumors, or blockages. A surgeon can also use the irrigation channel to flush out any blockages or mucus plugs within the salivary glands.
If a surgeon identifies any stones, they can insert tools through the microendoscope to remove small stones or break down and remove larger ones.
If a person has any narrowing of the tubes in the salivary gland, the surgeon can inflate the balloon on the microendoscope to widen the tubes and restore the proper flow of saliva.
If any tumors are present, a surgeon can carry out an examination during the sialendoscopy.
A sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure which typically avoids any skin incisions or a large amount of pain and swelling.
After a sialendoscopy, the person will typically recover from the local or general anesthetic in hospital and return home on the same day. Most people will recover by the next day and be able to return to work. A healthcare professional may recommend a person follows a soft, relatively bland diet for a few days following the sialendoscopy. Gentle massaging of the area can help to reduce any swelling.
Drinking extra water for 2 weeks following the sialendoscopy can help the salivary glands to return to normal functioning. If a person experiences pain and inflammation following a sialendoscopy, it is advisable to use pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
It is common for a person to experience a greater flow of saliva following a sialendoscopy due to the salivary gland functioning correctly.
According to the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, a sialendoscopy can help diagnose or treat issues of the salivary glands without having to remove the entire gland.
Alongside preserving the salivary glands, there are several benefits of a sialendoscopy to diagnose and treat salivary gland issues. These can include:
- avoiding a hospital stay
- lowering the risk of nerve damage to nearby areas
- avoiding incisions, bleeding, and scars
- reducing the risk of infection
- allowing the surgeon to view the salivary gland issue in detail and administer medication
- allowing the surgeon to perform additional minimally invasive procedures such as laser therapy
Research from 2018 suggests that a sialendoscopy is a safe, low-risk procedure. However, there can be complications, including:
- perforation of the salivary ducts
- swelling of the salivary glands
- temporary injury to surrounding nerves
- the basket attachment detaching and becoming stuck in the salivary glands
- infection
A sialendoscopy describes a minimally invasive procedure to diagnose and treat salivary gland issues such as salivary gland stones.
The procedure can help a surgeon get a closer look at the salivary glands and ducts, administer medication, flush out any blockages, and remove stones.
A sialendoscopy usually takes under an hour and has minimal risks, which are typically temporary and not life threatening. A person will typically recover from a sialendoscopy within a day.