Sialolithiasis is the cause of about 60%-70% of obstructive salivary gland diseases, and it is found in the submandibular gland by approximately 80%. Using sialendoscopy, stones under the size of 4 mm in the Wharton’s or Stenon’s ducts may be caught and extracted by baskets or other tools by approximately 80%. However, the stones of this size constitute 15% to 20% of all cases. It is possible to use sialendoscopy or combined approaches to extract stones that are larger after breaking them up and separating them into smaller particles. In this presentation, the speaker aimed to explain the indications, treatment outcomes and reliability levels of the intraductal pneumatic lithotripsy (IPL) and holmium laser-assisted lithotripsy (HLL) methods that are used to sialendoscopically separate stones into smaller pieces in salivary gland sialolithiasis patients. And also, the speaker will present the personal experience about the topic and will describe the advantages and disadvantages of these two techniques in salivary gland stones.

Background: Sialendoscopy is one of the most fascinating technical advancements introduced in the field of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery in the past decades. It has enabled minimally invasive salivary gland surgical interventions that revolutionized the management of a wide variety of salivary gland ductal diseases enabling gland preservation with improved patient quality of life. Yet its widespread practice and availability are yet hindered by numerous challenges, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries.

Description: A 30-minute keynote lecture shedding light on challenges hindering widespread sialendoscopy practice by a sialendoscopist with 15-year plus experience in practicing and promoting sialendoscopy in a developing country.

Outcome objectives: To highlight different unique challenges faced in starting a successful sialendoscopy practice in developing countries and strategies employed to overcome them to enable widespread patient benefit across the world especially in areas where high tech sophisticated medical care can be difficult to achieve.