Cleft lip is a congenital anomaly known colloquially as “Rabbit lip” or “Wolf mouth“. Cleft lip and palate are diseases that occur as a result of incomplete or incomplete fusion of the parts that need to be combined during the development of the face in the mother’s womb.
This disease, which is seen with a frequency of approximately 1 in every 1000 births in Turkey, often manifests itself in the form of separation (rabbit lip appearance) in the lips, palate and nostrils. It can be mild type, as well as severe types affecting the whole face can be seen.
Depending on the degree of cleft palate and lip and accompanying nasal structure disorders, surgical treatments start when the child is 3 months old and are completed in a few sessions until the age of 18.
Cleft palate and lip can be seen in various forms, ranging from mild to severe types that affect a part of the face, where the palate and lip are completely separated. In cases where the lip is overly affected, the structure of the nose is usually also affected. According to the effect of the palate, problems in the development of teeth are frequently seen.
It is generally expected to be 3 months for cleft lip and 9 months for cleft palate repair; however, at this stage, it is possible to feed the baby and reduce the cleft a little with the palatal appliances prepared with the support of dentistry. These appliances can also be provided to support the development of the nose.
Although babies are generally low in weight, they need to be brought to a suitable weight for surgery by being fed orally in breast milk and formulas with appropriate standard formula. Although feeding is easier in cleft lip, it is not recommended to lay the baby flat during feeding because of the easy passage of food into the nasal cavity and the frequent occurrence of reflux in cleft palate, it is recommended to keep the head elevated with a 45 degree tilt. Small and frequent feedings lasting no longer than 30 minutes are recommended. Frequent flatulence and warm feeding are recommended as these babies show more air. Since these babies cannot be sucked sufficiently, feeding with a wide mouth bottle or spoon is recommended.
Treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate is a long and intense process. In this process,
If necessary, social counselors or psychologists are used. Since fluid accumulation in the middle ear is common in babies with cleft palate, it is recommended to perform ear examination at certain intervals to avoid hearing problems.
In cleft lip, the baby is usually operated under general anesthesia after 3 months due to better healing of the scar, and after reaching sufficient weight around 9 months in cleft palate.
The construction steps are;
