| Joined: May 2012 Posts: 3 Member | OP Member Joined: May 2012 Posts: 3 | My husband had a partial hemiglossectomy with neck dissection performed last week. Everything seems to be healing well so far, with the exception of an open area (2cm) in the mid throat that continually drains saliva. It is unreal how much drainage there is and it is not slowing down. They have been packing it and dressing the area for almost a week and there is no lessening of the volume of drainage. They say this is the course to take and it may take time. Time could be a week to six months, I don't know. They won't estimate a time frame. Has anyone else dealt with this? Any idea of what to expect would be greatly appreciated. | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Becki, welcome to OCF. Sorry to hear your husband has had to undergo such an invasive surgery. Sorry, Im not familiar with the saliva drainage issue. I can only give a guess that it would be similar to how other drains are after surgeries and say up to 2 weeks. Adding more protein to his diet would help speed the healing. Maybe that would help.
Good luck! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 3 Member | OP Member Joined: May 2012 Posts: 3 | Thanks for the suggestion!
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | I'm a little confused - drainage from where? His incision?
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 3 Member | OP Member Joined: May 2012 Posts: 3 | Part of the incision site is still open. Apparently there is injury to a salivary gland and the drainage from that is keeping the incision open at the mid-line of the throat. | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Normally protocol is to put in a drain, then they let it drain fully for a few days and eventually it closes over and heals. I had two post op. it's sterile and a pressure drain so it actually sucks the fluid out gently and prevents infection... I would ask why he doesn't have one.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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