[Technique of intraoperative treatment of a retro-mandibular defect after parotidectomy. Use of a blot clot].

As noticed in our experience, cosmetic results, after total parotidectomy, were better if the patient presented an hematoma. The author got the idea to fill the retro-mandibular defect with a clot. The technique is presented in detail. Fifty four patients had a total parotidectomy between January 1992 and May 1993. A clot was used in 39 of these 54 cases. Were excluded malignant tumors, superficial parotidectomies or the presence of a general pathology (diabetes, cirrhosis). The result was excellent in 31 cases even if a local treatment was necessary due to a secondary hematoma. There was no infectious complication. The follow-up of this series is insufficient, but by analogy with spontaneous hematoma, the results should be persistent. This technique is simple, does not increased the time of the surgical procedure and does not induced injury on any donor site.