The Outcomes of Superficial Parotidectomy with Intraoperative Facial Nerve Monitoring: Experience in Sawanpracharak Hospital 2020 to 2022

Objective: To determine the outcomes of patients undergone parotidectomy with or without facial nerve monitoring. Materials and Methods: The present study was a retrospective study that included 35 patients underwent superficial parotidectomy with pathologic findings of benign parotid tumor. The patients were divided into two groups. Intraoperative facial nerve monitoring was performed in 15 patients and did not monitor in 20 patients. Data were compared between the surgical groups with intraoperative facial nerve monitoring and the groups without intraoperative facial nerve monitoring using the chi-square test and independent t-test. Results: Patients who underwent parotidectomy between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022, whose pathologic findings were benign, a total of 35 cases were divided into 15 patients underwent surgery with intraoperative facial nerve monitoring and 20 patients underwent surgery without intraoperative facial nerve monitoring. There was no statistical difference in operation time and saliva leakage. However, there was a statistical difference in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative facial nerve weakness rate, and postoperative earlobe numbness. Conclusion: The most common complication of parotidectomy is paralysis of the facial nerve. The present study showed that intraoperative facial nerve monitoring can reduce facial nerve paralysis, blood loss during surgery and postoperative earlobe numbness. Keywords: Intraoperative facial nerve monitoring; Parotidectomy; Parotid tumor