[Sialendoscopy--learning curve and nation-wide survey in German ENT-departments].

BACKGROUND

Sialendoscopy is an established, minimal-invasive technique to diagnose and treat obstructive diseases of major salivary glands. Knowledge on learning curve and distribution in Germany is limited. MATERIAL UND

METHODS

An 11 item questionnaire on Sialendoscopy was sent to all 159 German ent-hospitals. To determine the learning curve, all patients that underwent sialendoscopy during a 1-year-period after invention of sialendoscopy in our department were prospectively followed and evaluated.

RESULTS

Sialendoscopy is currently performed in a minority (24%) of ent-departments in Germany. Denial was justified by technical problems, a lack of cost-benefit and small number of patients in descending order. A significant reduction of intervention time (61.0 ± 32.7 min to 43.2 ± 33.6 min, p=0.013) and less frequent aborted operations were noted after comparison of the first vs. the second half amount of interventions as indicators of a learning curve. Complications were not found to be significantly raised in the first half of interventions.

CONCLUSION

The fact that sialendoscopy is provided in only a minority of ent-departments will in the future most likely be overcome by technical improvements. A learning curve has to be anticipated.