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After Cleft Lip Surgery

There are about one in eight hundred chances of a baby being born with a cleft lip or cleft palate. This is a congenital deformity, which occurs when the fetus is about eight to twelve weeks old. Though there are no sure causes for this deformity. Doctors believe that it may be due to some infection caught by the mother in the early stages of pregnancy, or due to some medicines she consumed at that stage or maybe even due to smoking. In this type of deformity, the lips, generally the upper lips are broken into two and do not form a perfect lip. Or there may be a hole in the formation of the palate or the lip.

The cleft lip can be corrected by surgery and the child can lead a normal life after recovery. The surgery is conducted when the child is a few weeks old. The procedure may take three to six hours depending upon the extent of the damage. The skin, the nerves, the blood vessels, all have to be restructured and it is a delicate plastic surgery which has very good and satisfactory results barring any unforeseen happenings. The surgeon will close the wound using sutures, which may be absorbable. As the patient is normally a small child, he will not be in a position to tell what he is feeling or what is happening to him. He will need special care and nursing. As the lips are wounded, feeding, positioning and activities of the child will undergo a change. But this is only for a short while as the wound heals up quite fast. .

The patient will not be able to suck on the nipple or the bottle or use the pacifier for about ten days after the surgery. The operation is done under anesthesia and as soon as the child regains consciousness, he should be given some clear liquid, like sugar water or apple juice. A syringe with a short tube may be used for this feeding. ) Older children may use a cup for drinking. And if the child has practiced doing this before the surgery, it would certainly help. The next feed could be the usual milk, cereal or baby food, which can again be given through the syringe after dilution. Older children can have blended food from a cup. The child may have some discomfort or pain while swallowing and not consume the usual quantity of food. The intravenous fluids should be continued till the child is able to have his usual quota. Painkillers, antibiotics and other medicine can be given through the IV.

Care has to be taken that the child does not rub the site of the operation or scratch it. He should be made to sleep on his side or back and avoid any pressure on the place of the operation. The stitches in the lip should be kept clean and the prescribed ointment should be applied till they heal and they are removed or get absorbed. The doctor or the nurse will show the parents of the patient how this is done. The small child will have to have round the clock guardian to see that he does not put fingers or toys in his mouth. Most patients will have arm restraints, which prevent the arms from bending and going into the mouth. These are usually kept for ten days after the surgery.

Generally the patient will be in the hospital for one night only and will be discharged once he takes adequate amount of fluids and food. The recovery is fast and the child can become normal.