What pre-operative counselling will you do for the surgery of Cystic Hygroma?

• Damage to facial, hypoglossal and accessory nerves may be difficult to avoid in case of large  cystic hygroma so a nerve stimulator should be used .
• Because of the enormous skin stretching and interference to the mandibular branch of the facial nerve a good cosmetic result is difficult to achieve.
• Excision of excess skin is usually needed
• Multiple excision may be needed over several years.
• Intraoral lymphangiomas need external approach and is more extensive than expected.
• Recurrence rate of Cystic hygroma =10-15% (within 9 months)
• Recurrence is more with cavernous than of cystic type.