Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#149418 05-11-2012 10:28 AM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3
Member
OP Offline
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: 6
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
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!


Christine
SCC 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 smile
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3
Member
OP Offline
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)
Offline
"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 Offline
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)
Offline
"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

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916, Megm37
13,103 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,166
Posts196,921
Members13,103
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5