Objective and subjective outcome in 42 patients after treatment of sialolithiasis by transoral incision of Warthon’s duct: a retrospective middle-term follow-up study

In this retrospective follow-up study, we present the middle-term results of transoral removal of submandibular calculi by incision in the floor of the mouth together with a patient satisfaction survey. These results will be compared with those of international studies. This is an individual retrospective cohort follow-up study. Forty-two patients had salivary calculi removed by incision in the mouth in the period from August 2009 to July 2012 at the Ear-nose-throat department of the North Zealand Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark. A retrospective study was carried out, focusing on the effects of the surgery and on patient satisfaction. The patients completed a questionnaire and underwent an objective physical exam. We found a high success rate (93 %), high patient satisfaction (94 %) and a high number of patients with no symptoms (92 %). In 94 % of the patients the gland was preserved, and there were no infections. One patient (3 %) suffered from damage to the lingual nerve, and 6 % (n = 2) claimed to suffer from continuous tingling of the tongue. Based on the present study and previous studies on transoral removal of calculi by incision in the floor of the mouth, we find this procedure effective, brief and safe for removal of large, immobile calculi from the hilum of the submandibular gland to the papilla.