Management of drooling for patients in north of Iran: Analysis and evaluation of 32 patients

Background. Drooling is a common problem in children and adults with neuromuscular disorders. This problem is best dealt with using a multidisciplinary team approach. The objective of this paper is to report our experience at the Drooling clinic. Submandibular duct relocation is a procedure that involves the dissection and rerouting of submandibular ducts to the tonsillar fossa. Methods. This procedure has been carried out on 32 patients over the past 14 years at the Amiralmomenin Hospital, Rasht between 1994 and 2007. All patients have been followed up with a postoperative telephone survey to determine long-term efficacy. Results. The mean presurgical score was 7.59 (range 5 to 10) and the mean postoperative score was 2.71 (range 2 to 5). Short-term control rates was high (P < 0.0001). In 83.4% of patients, long-term result was successful. There were few complications, none of which had any long-term adverse effects. Swelling of submandibular glands was frequently observed in the immediate post-operative period. The major late complication of a ranula was seen in a patient. Conclusion. Submandibular duct relocation with simultaneous sublingual gland excision is a safe and consistently efficient procedure for the treatment of chronic sialorrhea. We believe this operation is a more physiological procedure than others. Keywords: Drooling, sialorrhea, submandibular relocation, salivary glands