Longitudinal follow-up of obstructive sleep apnea following Furlow palatoplasty in children with cleft palate: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To longitudinally investigate the incidence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) following Furlow palatoplasty for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) in children with cleft palate.


METHODS
Ten children, six boys and four girls, mean age 5.1 years, at Furlow palatoplasty.


METHODS
Prospective analysis.


METHODS
Overnight polysomnographic studies were used to determine the incidence and severity of sleep apneas 1 day prior to Furlow palatoplasty, 1 week postoperatively, and approximately 3 and 6 months postoperatively.


RESULTS
None of the patients suffered OSA prior to Furlow palatoplasty. A high incidence of mild OSA (100%) occurred during the early postoperative period (p <.001) but resolved within 3 months in all but two patients (20%). Only one OSA (10%) persisted 6 months postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Furlow palatoplasty for VPI in children with cleft palate might induce temporary and mild OSA.
Department of Dentistry, Craniofacial Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 199 Tung-Hwa North Road, Taipei 105, Taiwan.
Yu-Fang
YF
Liao
Claudia
C
Yun
Chiung-Shing
CS
Huang
Philip K T
PK
Chen
Ning-Hung
NH
Chen
Kai-Fong
KF
Hung
Ming-Lung
ML
Chuang
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology*; D013062:Speech Articulation Tests; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D014833:Voice Quality