Factors influencing sialocele or salivary fistula formation postparotidectomy

Background Does the extent of parotidectomy or other patient or tumor characteristics influence the rate of sialocele/salivary fistula formation? Methods All patients who underwent parotidectomy at the University of Wisconsin from 1994 to 2013 were considered. Patients who developed a sialocele/salivary fistula were identified. Extent of dissection, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), volume of specimen, and rate of malignancy were examined. Results Seventy of 771 patients (9.1%) developed a sialocele/salivary fistula. Sixty‐seven fistulae (96%) developed within 1 month and all resolved by 6 months. Age, sex, pathology, and BMI were not increased in the sialocele group. Inferior and middle superficial parotidectomy had a significantly higher rate of sialocele than other extents of dissection. Volume of tissue removed was not significantly different between dissection groups. Conclusion Sialocele/salivary fistula is common postparotidectomy and is more likely with inferior and middle superficial parotidectomy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 387–391, 2017