[Complications and prognosis of cervical sialoceles in the dog using the lateral surgical approach].

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of intra- and postoperative complications and prognosis of cervical sialoceles in the dog when using the lateral surgical approach for extirpation of the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of 16 dogs with 19 sialoceles were evaluated retrospectively. Long-term follow-up was evaluated by telephone questionnaire to the owners or the referring veterinarian. The surgical technique is depicted in detail.

RESULTS: Dogs were of various breeds. Mean age was 5.6 years (1-13 years) and mean weight was 19.1 kg (6.5-33.6 kg). Eleven dogs were male (two castrated) and five were female (two castrated). The main complaint was a cervical swelling, which was present for one year or longer in three animals, for more than one month in eight animals, and between one day and one month in five animals. At initial presentation, 12 patients were pretreated. Three patients showed a bilateral sialocele initially or later. In all cases, the diagnosis of a sialocele was made correctly by ultrasonography. Intraoperatively, no complications occurred. Postoperatively, one patient developed a bleeding and two patients a seroma. In one patient a ranula was diagnosed 14 weeks postoperatively.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The lateral approach is well suited for surgical treatment of isolated cervical sialoceles, has a low complication rate and a very good prognosis. Conservative treatment using aspiration or drainage of the cyst's content is not indicated. Sialoceles can occur bilaterally, either initially or later.