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Expert Lectures

Head and Neck Surgery

Office Based Salivary Gland Surgery

Sunday, October 12, 2025
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM EDT
Location: 126
Disclosure(s):
Rahmatullah W. Rahmati, MD, MPH:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Patients with obstructive salivary gland disease experience recurrent salivary gland swelling and pain due to ductal obstruction by pathology such as stones and stenosis. Sialendoscopy has transformed the management of obstructive disease, offering both a diagnostic evaluation of the ductal system and potential therapeutic intervention on obstructive pathology in a minimally invasive and gland sparing approach. While sialendoscopy can be performed under various anesthetic options, the intent of this course is to explore the benefits and feasibility of transitioning sialendoscopy and associated salivary gland procedures into the office-based setting utilizing local anesthesia techniques.

A variety of otolaryngologic procedures are now offered under local anesthesia due to benefits to the patient, surgeon, practice, and healthcare system.

Patient benefits include the convenience of presenting to a familiar office environment without the formal requirements of a lengthy period of pre-procedure fasting and the need for a post-procedure chaperone to escort the patient home. The overall time commitment for the procedure is shortened.

For the surgeon, the benefits include the potential for optimized use of critical operating room time for more complex surgeries. Flexible of working short procedures into a clinic schedule and maximizing volume by cohorting similar cases.

For the healthcare system, optimizing allocation of operating room time for critical, complex, and time-sensitive cases can be facilitated by shifting more cases into the office setting.

While there are many potential benefits, risks in terms of safety and need for multiple procedures may be encountered if careful patient selection for the optimal type of anesthesia and setting of care are not considered. This course will provide a detailed approach to setting-up for office-based salivary gland surgery, included instrumentation, patient selection, surgical techniques, nursing assistance, after-care, and financial considerations.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: Understand patient and disease factors which would best qualify a patient for office based salivary gland surgery.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: Learn techniques necessary for successful office based salivary gland surgery.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: Recognize key operational elements necessary to initiate office based salivary gland surgery.

BACKGROUND STATEMENT:

Comprehensive Otolaryngology Track Statement :

    Lead Presenter(s)

  • RR

    Rahmatullah W. Rahmati, MD, MPH

    Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery
    Mass Eye and Ear/ Harvard Medical School
    Boston, MA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Presenter(s)

  • Arjun S. Joshi, MD

    Professor of Surgery
    George Washington Univ
    Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.