Complications of parotidectomy.

Parotidectomy, whether subtotal or total, is a surgical procedure associated with certain possible complications--namely, facial nerve injury, hemorrhage, infection, salivary fistula, seroma, keloid formation, greater auricular nerve anesthesia, gustatory sweating, and recurrent tumor. We review these complications to help the surgeon with preoperative patient counseling, as well as postoperative reassurance, and discuss those that are amenable to further treatment, either medical or surgical or both.