[Surgical approach to sialorrhea: a casuistic review and evaluation of grade of satisfaction].

INTRODUCTION: Drooling or sialorrhea is the involuntary, passive spillage of saliva from the mouth due to inability to handle oral secretions. The medical, psychosocial and economic impact of drooling is underestimated. Treatment should always involve a multidisciplinary team and can include a medical or surgical approach. Various surgical techniques are used to manage drooling; re-routing of the salivary ducts is one of the preferred methods in more significant situations. OBJECTIVES: To analyze retrospectively the group of children submitted to surgical correction of drooling in Sao Teotonio's Hospital and evaluate the clinical and caregiver satisfaction outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyse the clinical process of children submitted to surgical correction of drooling. Satisfaction scores were obtained by phone interview. RESULTS: Between January of 2003 and June of 2009, 16 child were submitted to surgical intervention for drooling, with a total of 17 surgeries. Most of them were males and have ages between 3 and 23 years, with the majority with ages between 10 and 15 years. All of them suffered from neurologic disease, mainly cerebral palsy. The majority were hospitalised for I to 2 days and no surgical complications were observed. In a significant percentage, good results were obtained and in 3 cases total resolution of drooling were reported. In about 44% of caregivers stayed very happy with the results of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Drooling is an important comorbility in child with neuro-muscular disease and is treatment can never be underestimated. By the analyses of the results of our surgical center, the re-routing of salivary ducts method reveals to be effective.