Cleft lip and cleft palate repair
Description
Occurs when the bone and tissue of the upper jaw and palate fail to fuse completely at the midline
Cheiloplasty (cleft lip repair surgery) and palatoplasty (cleft palate repair surgery) are performed to correct these defects
Defects being partial or complete, unilateral or bilateral, and possibly involving just the lip, just the palate, or both
Defects that originate in the second month of pregnancy involve the front and sides of the face and the palatine shelves fusing imperfectly
Causes: congenital defects, prenatal exposure to teratogens, or a potential relation to another chromosomal abnormality.
Purpose
Minimize and reduce complications caused by cleft lip and cleft palate, such as: speech defects; dental and orthodontic problems; nasal defects; alterations in hearing; shock, guilt, and grief for the parents that may interfere with parent-child bonding; and increased risk of aspiration, upper respiratory infections, and otitis media
Patient preparation
Cheiloplasty
Feed the infant slowly and in an upright position to decrease the risk of aspiration.
Special feeding devices may be used to reduce difficulty with feeding.
Burp the infant frequently during feeding to eliminate swallowed air and decrease the risk of emesis.
Use gavage feedings if oral feedings are unsuccessful.
Give a small amount of water after feedings to prevent formula from accumulating and becoming a medium for bacterial growth.
Give small, frequent feedings to promote adequate nutrition and prevent tiring.
Hold the infant while feeding.
Promote sucking between meals, which is important for speech development.
