(088) Cleft Lip Surgery in Newborns - Our Eighteen-year Experience

Introduction: Cleft lip surgery is usually performed at the age of 3 months or later. Nursing babies with visible facial disfigurement for three months can adversely affect the psychological wellbeing of these patients‘ families. Early surgical intervention can achieve not only good anatomical correction, but also significantly improve the quality of life of the whole family. The goal was to evaluate a group of patients with regard to postoperative complications and aesthetic results.

Methods: We operated on 795 patients cleft lip or cleft lip and palate at the age of 1 to 8 days after birth: 650 neonates with unilateral cleft lip and 115 with bilateral cleft lip. One surgeon from December 2005 to December 2022 performed all operations. A neonatologist was responsible for preoperative care and post-operatively in the NICU. Before surgery we performed 3D scans of palate shaped casting using laser scanner as well as facial scanner 3D. Newborns left the hospital between the 3rd and 4th postoperative day. All patients wore supportive silicon nostril retainers for 2-3 months.

Results: At the time of patients discharge the wounds were usually healed. Postoperative complications were found for 7 patients (0,88%). We presume that the aesthetic results are superior to patients operated in 3 months and later. Comparison of 3D scans of palate and face between study group and controls revealed no significant difference in maxila and face growth.

Conclusions: If early correction of the lip is performed by an experienced surgeon with a high-quality anesthesiology and neonatology background, it is a safe method for newborns with very good aesthetic results.