A Preliminary Report on Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Gel Application in Exofacial Parotidectomy

Objectives: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used in different kind of surgeries to improve hemostasis and wound healing. We set out to evaluate PRP gel efficacy, in drainage, drainage tube stay duration, and pain and length of hospital stay reduction after exofacial parotidectomy for pleomorphic adenoma. Methods: Between November and December 2012, exofacial parotidectomy was performed on 12 consecutive patients enrolled in this prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. Autologous PRP gel was applied on the remaining gland before wound closure in the treatment group (6 pts), while direct closure was applied in the controls (6 pts). Results: The mean 24-hour cumulative drainage was 128.64 ml vs. 50.33 ml (P = 0.049), mean pain score at 4 hours was 5.3 vs 1.5 (P = 0.046) and 5.2 vs 1.5 (P = 0.037) at 8 hours in treatment and control group respectively; the drainage tube was removed after a mean of 5.6 days in control group and after 3.3 days in the treatment one (P = 0.037); PRP gel pts were discharged after a mean of 3.33 days whereas no-PRP gel pts after a mean of 6.33 days (P = 0.046). Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that PRP gel application in parotid surgery could be a feasible, low cost, and efficient tool in improving surgical outcomes and in reducing patients effort in terms of pain, drainage tube endurance and hospital staying.