Acute Unilateral Parotid Gland Swelling following General Anaesthesia for Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery: A Case Report

Abstract

Acute enlargement of the parotid gland following general anaesthetic administration is an uncommon, harmless, and self-limiting complication. The most likely cause was thought to be anaesthesia mumps, which involves a complex interaction of multiple factors, including factors such as direct trauma, patient position leading to altered salivary flow along with an increase in viscosity due to dehydration, its occurrence following arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anaesthesia is relatively rare. It is usually a self-limiting disease and requires only follow-up observation, and in a few case reports, evaluation with imaging studies has been performed. However, severe complications may sometimes occur. If upper airway obstruction develops as in the present case, then emergency airway management must also be considered. Several surgical subspecialties, including orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, neurology, and spinal surgery, have recognised this uncommon postoperative syndrome. The present case report describes the medical condition of a 50-year-old female patient who experienced postoperative parotitis and underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery for rotator cuff repair involving general anaesthesia.