Abstract
Introduction Tumors of the parotid gland are heterogeneous. The purpose of the drain placement
is to evacuate fluid that has a potential to accumulate in the dead space and cause
infection after parotidectomy.
Objectives To evaluate the factors associated with drain output among patients submitted to
parotidectomy.
Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head
and Neck Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1994 to
December 2014. Patients who underwent parotidectomy were included in the study. Linear
regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with drain output.
Results A total of 193 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients
was 46.3 years, and 57% of them were male. Length of surgery (β coefficient = 24.2;
95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 4.94–85.26), type of neck dissection (modified radical
neck dissection: β = 93.9; 95% CI: 30.47–157.38; selective neck dissection: β = 79.9;
95%CI: 29.04–126.85), and type of parotidectomy (total β = 45.1; 95%CI: 4.94–85.26)
were factors that significantly influenced drain output in patients submitted to parotidectomy
with or without neck dissection.
Conclusion Neck dissection, total parotidectomy and length of surgery were predictors of postoperative
neck drainage in our cohort. These factors can help predict postoperative neck drain
output and help in patient counselling.
Keywords
salivary glands - neoplasms - neck - infection - general surgery
