'Surgical parotitis' demonstrated by Ga-67 scintigraphy in critically ill patients

''Surgical parotitis,'' or postoperative parotid sialadenitis, has been estimated to occur in 0.1% of postoperative patients, 20% of the cases being bilateral. Predisposing factors include debilitation, confinement to bed, or dehydration. A culture from the parotid duct and blood cultures should be obtained. Penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism cultured. The authors describe two patients who were fed by gastric and jejunal tubes postoperatively. Ga-67 scintigraphy was performed in search of infection. In both patients, an infection site was demonstrated as well as bilateral parotid uptake. Surgical parotitis should be recognized in critically ill, debilitated patients who cannot be fed by mouth.