To review our experience with therapeutic sialendoscopy in both the submandibular and parotid glands in order to determine prognostic factors and improve successful outcomes.

Single-centre, retrospective chart review.

The medical records of patients who had undergone sialendoscopy for sialolithiasis were reviewed, and demographic details, stone data (location, size, multiplicity, mobility), and operative technique and success were recorded.

Eighty-five patients were included: 70 patients with submandibular stones and 15 with parotid stones. Sialendoscopy was successful in all cases. Complete endoscopic removal was successful in 51 per cent of patients with submandibular stones and 47 per cent of those with parotid stones. Size (less than 5 mm) and distance from the papilla (less than 3 cm) were significant factors affecting success for patients with submandibular duct stones. However, this was not the case for patients with parotid duct stones, with neither variable achieving significance; nevertheless, numbers were small.

Stone size and location significantly affect the success of therapeutic sialendoscopy in submandibular glands.