Background: Parotid gland surgery is a difficult procedure because of the unique pathology of the parotid gland and the intimate relationship with the facial nerve. A devastating complication of a parotidectomy can be postoperative facial paralysis. Proper safe surgical technique is paramount for facial nerve preservation.
Objective: To describe the goals and benefits of facial nerve monitoring during parotid surgery.
Patient and Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 20 patients of both sexes with count age determination, who attached to the out-patient E.N.T clinic at Bab El Sha'ria (Sayed Galal) Hospital from October of 2019 to January of 2021. All the patients with the complaint of parotid swelling and the study compromised the patients who were submitted to superficial parotidectomy after completing all the clinical examinations and investigations.
Results: Mean age of all studied patients was 42.90 ± 17.68 years, with a minimum age of 13 years and maximum age of 75 years. There were 6 males (30%) and 14 females (70%) in the considered patients. Superficial parotidectomy was done in all 20 patients. Histopathological types were pleomorphic adenoma in 14 cases (70%), Warthin's tumor in 5 cases (25%) and chronic nonspecific inflammatory cells in 1 case (5%). Postoperative complication was in 1 case (5%) as facial nerve affection.
Conclusion: Facial nerve monitoring during parotid surgery is an adjunctive method to assist the functional preservation of the facial nerve.