Submandibular Gland Surgery - Not Straight Forward
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi,
I had surgery to rempove my left submandibular saliva gland under general anesthetic a month ago. Shortly after leaving the recovery room to go back to the ward, the artery in my neck burst and I was rushed back in for emergency surgery to repair it. I was unconcious and intubated for 14hrs before waking up in intensive care. A bit scary to say the least.
I was made aware of the risk of a bleed before the operation but was more concerned with the possibility of permanent nerve damage. It was explained that a bleed was VERY rare and so I didn't feel to worried.
What I would like to know though, is the artery cut during the operation to facilitate removal of the gland or has it been cut in error during the operation? The cause of the bleed was that the staples gave way and the artery bled into the wound...rapidly!
I'm going back to see the consultant in a few days with most of the swelling and deep, dark purple bruising around my neck area now gone ( there was a lot! ). The area directly below the scar however, is still about the size of a large egg and doesn't seem to be getting any smaller.
Any advice or anecdotal knowledge would be appreciated.
1 like, 5 replies
roxy99 Gammyleg
Posted
You should be seen as a follow-up and will be able to ask a few questions about how you feel. All the best.
Sabina86 Gammyleg
Posted
Hi, did the egg like mass go away under the scar? I'm currently 4 weeks out and dealing with this right now. It's painful and preventing me from extending my neck back or moving it a certain way. It also prevents me from fully opening my mouth.
Gammyleg Sabina86
Posted
Hi Sabina,
Yes it did, but I had to go back to the hospital to get the fluid drawn out with a syringe. They did this under a local anesthetic so it wasn't painful.
The fluid was a build up of blood which presumably accumulated after the drain was remove following the surgery. Perhaps it had been removed too soon.
Anyway, there was an immediate improvement but over the next day or two it did grow back again slightly. Ultimately over the next couple of weeks it had gone altogether.
Overall the operation has left no long term effects other than:
1 a slight tightness around the scar ( which is pretty much invisible now )
2 I get neck cramp below the scar if I yawn too aggresively.
3 I suffer from a dry mouth more regularly and I certainly need to drink more water or liquids than I ever used to
Hope this helps
robert77825 Sabina86
Posted
robert77825 Gammyleg
Posted