Abstract

OBJECTIVES To investigate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound guided botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injections into salivary glands for the treatment of sialorrhoea in patients with neurological disorders.

METHODS The parotid and submandibular glands of 10 patients were injected with BTX-A using ultrasound guidance. Before injection, the baseline rate of salivation was assessed using a visual analogue scale. Postinjection, assessments were repeated at regular intervals for up to 1 year.

RESULTS Of the 10 patients treated, nine (90%) reported a subjective reduction in salivation post-treatment and one patient (10%) found no improvement. Visual analogue scale scores showed a reduction of 55% in the mean rate of salivation for all patients and a reduction of 60.8% for the group of responders. No serious adverse events occurred and no procedure related complications were reported.

CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to report (1) the injection of BTX-A (BOTOX^®) into both parotid and submandibular glands, and (2) the use of ultrasound guidance during the administration of BTX-A into salivary glands. The results suggest that the technique is safe and that BTX-A injections are effective for the treatment of sialorrhoea in patients with neurological disorders.