What is a parotidectomy?
A parotidectomy is a procedure for removing a parotid gland.
The parotid glands are in the cheeks just in front of and
slightly below your ears. They produce saliva.
When is it used?
Reasons for performing this procedure are:
- The parotid gland may have a lump, which may or may not
be cancerous. (20% of lumps are malignant.)
- A parotid gland lump may be benign (not cancerous), but
it may be a type that grows slowly and must be removed to
prevent severe cosmetic problems.
- The duct carrying saliva from the parotid gland may be
blocked by a stone, causing infection.
An example of alternatives is to choose to do nothing,
recognizing the risks of your condition.
How do I prepare for a parotidectomy?
Plan for your care and recovery after the operation. Allow
for time to rest and try to find people to help you with
your day-to-day duties.
Follow your health care provider's instructions about not
smoking before and after the procedure. Smokers heal more
slowly after surgery. They are also more likely to have
breathing problems during surgery. For this reason, if you
are a smoker, you should quit at least 2 weeks before the
procedure. It is best to quit 6 to 8 weeks before surgery.
Also, your wounds will heal much better if you do not smoke
after the surgery.
If you need a minor pain reliever in the week before
surgery, choose acetaminophen rather than aspirin,
ibuprofen, or naproxen. This helps avoid extra bleeding
during surgery. If you are taking daily aspirin for a
medical condition, ask your provider if you need to stop
taking it before your surgery. Ask your provider if you
need to stop taking any other medicines.
Follow any other instructions your provider may give you.
Eat a light meal, such as soup or salad, the night before
the procedure. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight
and the morning before the procedure. Do not even drink
coffee, tea, or water.
What happens during the procedure?
You will be given a general anesthetic. It will put you to
sleep and keep you from feeling pain.
The surgeon will make a cut around the front of your ear and
under your jaw. The surgeon will fold the skin back and
expose the parotid gland. The surgeon will remove the
part of the parotid gland that lies over the facial nerve.
Another doctor, called a pathologist, will look at the tumor
under a microscope. Depending on the type of tumor, the
surgeon may need to remove the remaining part of the parotid
gland. The surgeon will try to avoid injuring the nerves
that lie inside the gland and control facial muscle
movement. If you have cancer around the nerve, the surgeon
may remove the tumor and that part of the nerve. The
surgeon will place a temporary drain in the wound and close
the cut.
What happens after the procedure?
You may be in the hospital for a day. The side of your face
will be swollen for about 3 weeks and sore for at least a
week. If any of the nerves in your cheeks were bruised, the
side of your face may be numb and the muscles may be weak.
Your face may droop for 3 to 6 weeks. Permanent weakness is
common in the lower lip on the side where you had the
surgery, but permanent facial weakness or paralysis is rare.
While you are recovering, you may feel discomfort when
chewing.
Ask your health care provider what steps you should take and
when you should come back for a checkup and removal of the
drain.
What are the benefits of this procedure?
If cancer was found, you will have a good chance for cure.
If a benign tumor was found, you will avoid the problem of
having a visible tumor on your face. You will no longer
have pain or swelling around the parotid gland.
What are the risks associated with this procedure?
- There are some risks when you have general anesthesia.
Discuss these risks with your health care provider.
- The nerves in your cheek may be damaged or cut during
this operation. If this happens, one or more of the
muscles in your face may not work as before and that side
of your face could droop and look different from the
other side. You may not be able to move your lower lip
as well as before. This is usually temporary but may be
permanent.
- You will have numbness in the lower part of your earlobe.
- If you had cancer, further treatment may be necessary.
The cancer may come back.
- You may have infection or bleeding.
You should ask your health care provider how these risks
apply to you.
When should I call my health care provider?
Call your provider right away if:
- You develop a fever over 100°F (37.8°C).
- You notice drainage or swelling in the wound.
Call during office hours if:
- You have questions about the procedure or its result.
- You want to make another appointment.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
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