Transplantation of Salivary Gland to the Lacrimal Basin

Abstract

Transplantation of autologous salivary glands to the lacrimal basin has been performed in patients with severe xerophthalmos and with or without severe xerostomia. In five cases a free transplantation of the sublingual salivary gland was performed obtaining only one relative success. In 3 cases a transplant of the submaxillary gland was performed with maintained blood supply through vascular anastomosis, resulting in 2 relative successes.