Postoperative Complications After Cleft Palate Closure in Patients With Pierre Robin Sequence: Operative Considerations

In cleft surgery there is no current general agreement on the treatment strategy of patients with the Pierre Robin Sequence. The timing of surgery and the surgical approach depends on the treating physician or the hospital facility. Literature regarding peri- and postoperative complications in the target population are lacking.

The investigators aim to retrospectively review the charts of all cleft patients, both PRS and non-PRS, treated with an adapted Furlow palatoplasty between 01/01/2011 and 31/08/2015. The incidence of peri- and postoperative complications, with a specific focus on respiratory complications, will be examined. The value of demographic, surgical and postoperative parameters will be examined as potential risk factors for the development of complications.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients of all ages
• patients that had undergone a modified Furlow palatoplasty
• patients treated at the GH Saint-John Bruges (Belgium), or the cooperating Semmelweis University (Hungary)

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients not eligible according to the abovementioned criteria