CONSERVATIVE PAROTIDECTOMY BY THE ANTERIOR APPROACH

ABSTRACT

The principle of surgery of the parotid gland is adequate removal of the tumor with functional and anatomical preservation of all blanches of the facial nerve. There are two main surgical approaches to superficial or total conservative parotidectomy. Anterior approach and posterior approach. Preliminary identification of the main trunk of the facial nerve is probably the most favoured techniques, but identification of the peripheral blanches of the facial nerve, with subsequent Proximal dissection to the main trunk, is long established but less popular technique. We have prospectively experienced the low incidence of facial nerve damage in series of 55 conservative parotidectomies performed using the anterior approach. The techniques employed is described with a deport of results obtained in the belief that this approach warrants greater popularity and saute technique.