cleft palate: association with aspiration pneumonia

Abstract

Purposes: Association of cleft palate with aspiration pneumonia has been hardly mentioned in literatures. We performed this study to assess the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in infants with cleft palate and to determine the correlation between the incidence of aspiration pneumonia and the severity of cleft palate

Materials and methods: Retrospective review of medical records revealed 100 infants who underwent initial corrective surgery for cleft palate in our hospital during the last 3 years. Infants with aspiration pneumonia were identified by both radiographic evidence of pulmonary consolidation compatible with aspiration pneumonia and a history of frequent choking when the infants were fed. We analyzed anatomic distribution of aspiration pneumonia, and compared the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in infants with complete defect (defect involving both the soft and hard palate) with that in infants with incomplete defect (defect involving only the soft palate). Two chest radiologists reviewed chest radiographs by consensus.

Results: Among the 100 infants with cleft palate, 35 (35%) showed aspiration pneumonia. Pneumonia was most commonly seen in the left lower lobe (11 of 35). Incidences of aspiration pneumonia in infants with complete and incomplete cleft palate were similar (27 of 70 [39%] vs 8 of 30 [27%], p=0.36 ).

Conclusion: Aspiration pneumonia frequently occurs in infants with cleft palate and, thus, should be included in the preoperative and postoperative assessment of cleft palate.