Cleft palate and ventilation tubes: a prophylactic dilemma

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to understand, in a long-term follow-up study, whether the placement of grommets had been necessary after cleft palate surgical correction.MethodA case–control, retrospective study was carried out on consecutive paediatric patients who underwent surgical repair of a cleft palate.ResultsThe study population included 138 patients, divided into 2 groups: group 1 – patients in whom grommets were placed at the time of cleft palate surgery, and group 2 – patients in whom grommets were not placed at the time of cleft palate surgery. During the follow up, in groups 1 and 2, 65.2 per cent and 67.8 per cent, respectively, did not need subsequent grommet placement after cleft palate surgery.ConclusionOf patients, 56.5 per cent did not need ventilation tubes at any point during follow up. The placement of grommets is not innocuous; therefore, its use at the time of cleft palate surgical repair should be reconsidered.