Submandibular sialoadenectomy with local anesthesia in the era of minimally invasive surgery

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and advantages of submandibular sialoadenectomy under local anesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with benign submandibular masses underwent submandibular sialoadenectomy. The procedure was carried out under local anesthesia (LA) in 12 patients and general anesthesia (GA) in 8 patients. The patient and tumor characteristics, as well as treatment outcome or complications, were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no conversion from LA to GA. Nine patients in the LA group could be discharged as day-case surgery versus none in the GA group, P = 0.001. The postoperative hospital stay was also much shorter in the LA group: 0.4 day vs 2.0 days, P < 0.001. Postoperative vomiting occurred in only two of the eight patients of the GA group. Complication rate was similar. CONCLUSION: Submandibular sialoadenectomy under local anesthesia is feasible. It can shorten the hospital stay and facilitate day-case surgery.