52148 - Parotid Duct Microsurgical Repair

The need for repair of the parotid duct using microsurgical techniques arises when a patient sustains an injury or obstruction to this salivary duct—often from trauma or surgical complications—requiring precise reconnection or reconstruction under anesthesia with assistance in a hospital to restore salivary flow and prevent complications like fistulas or gland damage. This procedure employs microsurgery for its accuracy in handling the delicate duct, critical in the maxillofacial region where the parotid gland’s function and proximity to the facial nerve demand meticulous care to maintain oral health and facial movement.

Key indications include:

• Traumatic laceration: A facial stab wound cutting the parotid duct might leak saliva externally, needing microsurgical repair to reconnect it.
• Surgical injury: Damage during parotid tumour removal could sever the duct, requiring precise suturing to restore flow.
• Obstruction: Scarring or strictures from prior injury might block the duct, needing microsurgery to reopen or bypass.
• Fistula risk: Untreated duct damage could form a cutaneous fistula, prompting repair to prevent chronic leakage.

For example, a patient with a parotid duct cut from a glass shard might need this to stop saliva pooling under the skin, with microsurgery ensuring nerve safety and assistant support for precision. In an aged care context, an elderly patient with a duct injury from a fall could require this to avoid infection or gland atrophy, given their frailty. By repairing the duct with fine techniques, this service restores salivary function, prevents complications, and preserves facial integrity, making it an advanced solution for parotid duct injuries in the maxillofacial area.

Surgeons repairing the patient’s parotid duct using microsurgical techniques under anesthesia with assistance deliver precise benefits. A primary advantage is restoring salivary function. This meticulous repair ensures the patient’s saliva flows correctly, preventing pooling—essential for 'parotid duct repair benefits.' It also prevents fistulas by sealing the duct accurately, reducing the patient’s risk of leakage or infection. Furthermore, it protects facial nerve integrity by leveraging microsurgery, preserving the patient’s facial movement. For surgeons researching 'microsurgical duct repair advantages,' this assisted procedure ensures patients experience functional restoration, fistula prevention, and nerve safety, making it an advanced fix for parotid duct injuries.

Recovery of 2-4 weeks with swelling and monitoring; hospital stay required.