Sialendoscopy

Have you ever noticed swelling or pain under your jaw or near your ear, especially when you eat? One possible reason could be a problem with your salivary glands.

Salivary glands produce saliva, which helps keep your mouth moist and also helps with digestion. Sometimes, small stones or blockages can form in the tiny tubes that carry saliva from the glands into the mouth. When this happens, saliva cannot flow properly, leading to pain and swelling.

Sialendoscopy is a modern and minimally invasive treatment that helps doctors find and treat these blockages. The best part is that, in many cases, the salivary gland can be saved instead of being removed.

What Is Sialendoscopy?

Sialendoscopy is a procedure used to look inside the small tubes, called ducts, that carry saliva into the mouth.
The doctor uses a very thin tube with a tiny camera and light at the end. This is called a sialendoscope. It is gently passed through the natural opening of the salivary duct inside the mouth.
The camera allows the doctor to see exactly what is causing the problem. If there is a small stone or blockage, the doctor can often remove it during the same procedure. Unlike traditional surgery, there is usually no large cut on the face or neck.

Why Do Salivary Gland Stones Develop?

Saliva normally flows freely from the salivary glands into the mouth. Sometimes, minerals present in saliva can build up and form a small, hard stone.
These are called salivary gland stones or salivary stones.
A stone can block the passage through which saliva normally flows. This can cause the gland to swell and become painful.
Some common reasons that may increase the risk of salivary stones include:

Not drinking enough water
Thick or concentrated saliva
Repeated inflammation of the salivary gland
Changes in the normal flow of saliva
Certain medical conditions or medicines

However, salivary stones can also develop without an obvious reason.

What Are the Symptoms of Salivary Gland Stones?

The symptoms can be different from person to person, but some common signs include:
Pain under the jaw or near the ear
Swelling of the face, jaw, or area under the tongue
Pain or swelling that becomes worse while eating
A dry feeling in the mouth
Repeated salivary gland infections
Bad taste in the mouth
Pus coming from the opening of the salivary duct
Difficulty eating because of pain or swelling

One common sign is swelling that gets worse during meals. This happens because eating makes the body produce more saliva, but the stone blocks its normal flow.

Possible Line of Treatment – Minimally Invasive Sialendoscopy – In this procedure A specialist passes an incredibly thin, lighted micro-endoscope directly into the duct opening under your tongue. Using direct visualization, they capture the stone inside a tiny wire “basket” and retrieve it without making any incisions on your skin.

How Does Sialendoscopy Work?

Sialendoscopy is a relatively simple procedure, although the exact process depends on the patient’s condition.
Step 1: The Patient Is Given Anaesthesia
The doctor decides whether local or general anaesthesia is needed based on the patient’s condition and the procedure being planned.
Step 2: A Tiny Camera Is Inserted
The doctor gently places the very small sialendoscope through the natural opening of the salivary duct inside the mouth.
There is usually no need for a large cut on the outside of the face.
Step 3: The Doctor Finds the Problem
The tiny camera shows the inside of the duct on a screen. The doctor can identify a stone, narrowing, or another blockage.
Step 4: The Blockage Is Treated
If a stone is small enough, special tiny instruments can be used to remove it.
For larger stones, the doctor may use additional techniques to break the stone into smaller pieces before removing it. Sometimes, a combination of endoscopy and a small surgical approach may be needed.
Step 5: The Duct Is Cleaned
The doctor may wash the duct with a sterile fluid to clear away small particles and help saliva flow normally again.

Which Salivary Glands Can Be Treated?

There are three main pairs of salivary glands, but sialendoscopy is mainly used for problems involving the parotid and submandibular glands.
Parotid Gland: These glands are located on both sides of the face, close to the ears.
Submandibular Glands: These glands are located underneath the jaw.
Both glands have small tubes that carry saliva into the mouth, and these tubes can develop stones or become blocked.

What Are the Benefits of Sialendoscopy?

The main advantage of sialendoscopy is that it allows doctors to treat the problem while trying to save the salivary gland.
Some important benefits include:
No large cut on the face or neck in most cases
Less scarring
Less damage to surrounding tissues
The salivary gland can often be preserved
The doctor can see the problem directly
Diagnosis and treatment can sometimes be done during the same procedure
Recovery is generally quicker than traditional surgery
Of course, the results and recovery time depend on the patient’s condition and the type of treatment required.

Is Sialendoscopy Better Than Traditional Surgery?

Sialendoscopy is not necessarily better for every patient, but it can be a good option for many people with salivary duct stones and blockages.
In traditional surgery, the doctor may sometimes need to make an incision or even remove the affected salivary gland.
With sialendoscopy, the doctor tries to reach the problem through the natural opening of the duct and remove the stone or clear the blockage. This means that the gland can often be kept in place.
However, very large stones, deeply located stones, or complicated cases may require another approach. Sometimes, sialendoscopy and traditional surgery are used together.

What Tests Are Done Before Sialendoscopy?

Before treatment, the doctor will usually ask about your symptoms and examine your mouth and salivary glands.
The doctor may recommend tests such as:
Ultrasound
CT scan
MRI
Other salivary gland imaging tests
These tests help the doctor understand the location and size of the stone or blockage and decide which treatment would be most suitable.

What Happens After Sialendoscopy?

Most patients have some mild swelling or discomfort after the procedure. This usually improves as the area heals.
Your doctor may recommend:
Drinking plenty of water
Keeping your mouth clean
Eating soft foods for a short period if needed
Taking prescribed medicines
Following specific instructions to keep saliva flowing
The recovery period varies from patient to patient. Your doctor will tell you when you can return to your normal activities.

Are There Any Risks?
Sialendoscopy is generally considered a safe procedure, but like any treatment, it can have some risks.
These may include:
Temporary swelling
Mild pain or discomfort
Bleeding
Infection
Injury to the salivary duct
Temporary numbness or altered sensation
The stone not being completely removed
The blockage coming back
In some cases, another procedure may be needed, especially if the stone is very large or difficult to reach.

Who Can Have Sialendoscopy?
Sialendoscopy may be recommended for people who have:
Salivary gland stones
Repeated swelling while eating
Repeated salivary gland infections
Blocked salivary ducts
Narrowing of the salivary ducts
Problems with saliva flowing normally
Not everyone with a salivary gland problem is suitable for sialendoscopy. An experienced ENT or head and neck surgeon will check your symptoms and test reports before recommending the procedure.

Sialendoscopy in India
India has many hospitals with experienced ENT and head and neck specialists who treat salivary gland problems using modern techniques.
For international patients, treatment in India can also include help with medical appointments, hospital admission, travel arrangements, and follow-up care.
Before choosing a hospital, patients should check whether the hospital has the required equipment and whether the treating doctor has experience in sialendoscopy and salivary gland disorders.

Top Doctor and Hospitals for Sialendoscopy in India

We will recommend the following hospitals and doctors–

Fortis Healthcare Limited-Gurgaon- is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. The healthcare verticals of the company primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics and day care specialty facilities. The company operates its healthcare delivery services in India, Dubai, Mauritius and Sri Lanka with 54 healthcare facilities (including projects under development), approximately 10,000 potential beds and 260 diagnostic centres. In a global study of the 30 most technologically advanced hospitals in the world, its flagship, the Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), was ranked No. 2, by globally and placed ahead of many other outstanding medical institutions in the world. To know more, click on link: https://hbgmedicalassistance.com/hospitals/fortis/

Kindly have a visual tour of the hospital via link- https://pin.it/2EBKE74Va

Dr. Atul Mittal will be the treating doctor. Kindly find his profile attached.

Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon- Artemis Health Institute (AHI), at Gurgaon is a 300-bed tertiary care super-specialty flagship hospital established by Artemis Health Sciences (AHS). Artemis Hospital is the first JCI and NABH accredited hospital in Gurgaon. To know more about the Hospital, kindly click on the link – https://hbgmedicalassistance.com/hospitals/artemis/

Kindly have a visual tour of the hospital via link – https://pin.it/1bs51UAGE

Dr. Priyanka Raina will be treating doctor. Kindly find her profile via link – https://hbgmedicalassistance.com/doctors/surgical-oncologist/dr-priyanka-raina/

Amrita Hospitals is Asia’s largest healthcare destination in Faridabad, Haryana. Spread across 133 acres, this campus has 2600 bed super specialty Hospital. It has 62 state-of-the-art modular Operation theatres(country’s largest), 540+ Smart Critical Care Beds (country’s largest) with most avant-garde and largest (Intel) Laboratory and Imaging Services. It has country’s highest positive and exclusive negative pressure isolation rooms for Infectious Diseases. To know more, click on the link:- https://hbgmedicalassistance.com/hospitals/amrita/

Kindly have a visual tour of the hospital via link- https://pin.it/6VWWsyyzq

Dr. Anil Kumar Murarka- will be the treating doctor, To know more, click on the link:- https://hbgmedicalassistance.com/dr-anil-kumar-murarka/

Cost of Sialendoscopy in India

Estimated Cost of Surgery at mentioned hospitals is a below-

Estimated cost of evaluation – between $700- $900

Kindly Note: The final plan depends on your specific condition and the doctor’s assessment.

Stay in India – Patients will need 1-2 days for initial evaluations on an OPD basis. Patients may need to stay for 1-2 days in hospital for surgery. Post discharge, he may require 10-15 days for follow-ups and rehab. Total length of stay in India will be approx. 3 Weeks.

Conclusion
Salivary gland stones and blockages can be uncomfortable, particularly when the pain and swelling become worse while eating. In the past, some patients with these problems needed more extensive surgery.
Sialendoscopy offers a less invasive way to find and treat many salivary duct problems. Using a tiny camera and specialised instruments, doctors can often remove stones and clear blockages while preserving the salivary gland.
If you regularly experience swelling or pain around your jaw or ears, especially during meals, it is worth speaking with an ENT or head and neck specialist. Early evaluation can help identify the cause and determine whether sialendoscopy or another treatment would be right for you.