Pediatrics

CLEFT LIP AND PALATE REPAIR

CLEFT LIP

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An infant with an opening in the palate, or roof of the mouth, at birth is said to have a cleft lip or palate. Cleft lip and palate are some of the most common congenital abnormalities, including orofacial clefts.

A baby born with a cleft may exhibit

  • just a cleft palate
  • only a cleft lip
  • having both a cleft palate and lip

Cleft palate

  • A baby with a cleft palate is born with an opening in the roof of the mouth, creating a passageway between their mouth and nose.
  • The opening might develop in the soft palate, which is the area below the gums, or it can extend forward to the hard palate, which is the area behind the gums.
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Cleft lip

  • A fissure or opening in the upper lip is present in newborns with cleft lip. This disorder develops when the lip does not grow properly in the early stages of pregnancy, resulting in a separation.
  • This is also known as hare lip.
  • A cleft lip can be:
  • Unilateral: more common, cleft on one side of the lip.
  • Bilateral: cleft on both sides of the lip.

Causes of cleft lip and palate

The cause of cleft lip and cleft palate is typically not known. There is no way to prevent these conditions. 

  • The majority of scientists think that a mix of environmental and genetic factors causes clefts. 
  • A newborn's risk of developing clefts appears to be higher if their parent, sibling, or other family has experienced the condition.
  • Medications that a woman may have taken while pregnant could be another possible reason. Certain medications, such as anti-seizure/anticonvulsant medications, acne medications containing Accutane, and methotrexate (a medication frequently prescribed for psoriasis, arthritis, and cancer) can result in cleft lip and cleft palate.
  • During the fetus's development in the womb, exposure to viruses or chemicals may also result in cleft lip and cleft palate.
  • Cleft lip and palate may also be a complication of another medical illness under other circumstances.

Symptoms of harelip and cleft palate

Because of the incomplete development of the roof of the mouth, babies with cleft palates may have more difficulty feeding from a bottle or breast. When they attempt to eat, food or fluids may flow out of their nose.

Additional signs and symptoms consist of:

  • Speech pauses or difficulty speaking
  • Infections of the ears
  • Loss of hearing
  • Tiny, crooked, or missing teeth
  • Irregular spacing between teeth and jaws

Diagnosis of cleft lip and palate

Usually, clefts are detected at the time of birth. Sometimes a prenatal ultrasound can find them before the baby is born. A cleft lip is easier to see, while a cleft palate is frequently harder to see on ultrasonography. Upon first examining a newborn, doctors typically detect cleft palates by looking inside the baby's mouth and feeling it with their fingers.

Cleft lip and cleft palate treatment

Cleft lip and palate treatments improve your child's ability to speak and eat. Surgeons use surgery to fix cleft lip and palate. Additional therapies address issues related to speech and eating that can arise from cleft lip and palate.

Treatment modalities include:

  • Cleft Lip surgery
  • Cleft Palate surgery

Other treatments:

The following treatments may be recommended by your child's physician to address issues resulting from a cleft lip and palate

  • Braces to straighten the teeth
  • Feeding therapy
  • Ear tubes and other treatments for ear infections
  • Speech therapy
  • Hearing aids

Cleft lip surgery

  • Around three months of age, a plastic surgeon usually does the first repair of a baby's cleft lip. The infant is given general anesthesia before this treatment. This procedure is called cheiloplasty.

The following are the main goals of cleft lip repair:

  • Sealing the cleft.
  • Improving the nose and upper lip's symmetry and form
  • Additional procedures like lip adhesion or nasal alveolar molding (NAM) may be used in cases when the cleft lip is exceptionally large in order to improve the nasal contour and bring the lip segments closer together before the cleft lip is repaired. 
  • After the surgery, the cleft will be replaced by a little scar beneath the nose.

Cleft palate surgery

  • When the baby is between 10 and 12 months old, a surgical procedure called a palatoplasty is usually used to treat a cleft palate. 

The following are the main goals of palatoplasty:

  • Sealing the opening that separates the oral and nasal cavities.
  • Assisting in the development of a functional palate for efficient speech
  • Stopping food and liquids from escaping into the nasal route.

Procedure of cleft palate surgery

In order to heal the palate, the surgeon will:

  • Re align and repair the muscles of the soft palate to enhance their ability to speak.
  • Seal the cleft using several layers.
  • Two "relaxing incisions" (incisions made behind the gums on either side of the palate are  made by the surgeon to ease the strain on the palate repair. 
  • In some cases, the surgeon may even use tissue from the inner cheeks to help finish the surgery.
  • General anesthesia is required for the procedure, which usually lasts two to three hours. 
  • After one or two days in the hospital, the majority of babies are discharged and the sutures dissolve on their own.

Who provides care for kids with Cleft lip and palate in India?

A team of physicians and other specialists are typically involved in the care of these children because of the numerous oral health and medical issues that are linked to cleft lip or cleft palate.

Typical members of a cleft lip and palate team in India are:

  • A plastic surgeon to assess and execute any required lip and/or palate operations
  • An otolaryngologist, or ear, nose, and throat physician, to assess hearing issues and discuss possible solutions
  • An oral surgeon will realign some upper jaw segments to enhance look and function. 
  • An orthodontist is required to straighten and realign the teeth.
  • A dentist to handle regular dental procedures
  • A prosthodontist can create dental appliances and replacement teeth to enhance look and fulfill speech and eating needs.
  • A speech-language pathologist to evaluate issues with feeding and speaking
  • An audiologist to evaluate and track hearing. Audiologists specialize in communication issues resulting from hearing impairments.
  • A coordinator of nurses to oversee the child's health on a continuing basis
  • A psychologist or social worker to assist the family and evaluate any issues related to adjustment
  • To assist parents and adult patients in understanding the likelihood of having further children with these problems, a geneticist is also present.

Factors affecting the cost of cleft lip and palate surgery in India

The price of cleft lip and palate treatment in India might vary based on a number of variables. The following factors may have an impact on the cost of cleft lip and palate surgery in India

  • The price of medications.
  • The length of the course of treatment.
  • Location of the hospital
  • The cost of hospital stays.
  • Packages for medical travel.
  • Infrastructure and reputation of hospitals.
  • The knowledge and experience of healthcare providers
  • Type of diagnostic tests.
  • The therapy modality selected

Best hospitals for for cleft lip repair in India

  • ​Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon​
  • ​Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi​
  • ​Medanta The Medicity, Gurugram​
  • Artemis Hospital, Gurugram​
  • ​Max Hospital, Delhi​
  • ​Apollo Hospitals, Delhi​
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Best surgeons for for cleft lip repair in India

  • Dr. Anand Sinha
  • Dr. Richie Gupta
  • Dr. Rakesh Kumar Khazanchi
  • Dr. Vipul Nanda
  • Dr. Sunil Choudhary​
  • Dr. Kuldeep Singh

Best hospitals for cleft palate repair in India

  • Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon​
  • ​Fortis hospital, Bangalore​
  • ​Medanta The Medicity, Gurugram​
  • Artemis Hospital, Gurugram​
  • ​Max Hospital, Delhi​
  • ​Apollo Hospitals, Delhi​

Best surgeons for cleft palate repair in India

  • Dr. Vikram Sharma
  • Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy
  • Dr. Rajesh Kumar Ahlawat
  • Dr. Vikram Barua Kaushik 
  • Dr. Atul N C Peters
  • Dr. Ashish Sabharwal 

Why choose Get Well Go for cleft lip and palate surgery in India?

Get well Go guarantees that consumers have the most reasonable Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery Cost in India under the direction of highly qualified medical professionals.

We offer:

  • Complete transparency
  • Fair costs.
  • 24 hour availability.
  • Medical E-visas
  • Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
  • Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for cleft lip and palate surgery.
  • Expert oncologist with a strong track record of success
  • Assistance during and after the course of treatment.

FAQ

1. How effective is surgery for cleft lip?

  • The majority of the time, Cleft Lip Surgery goes well and presents no long-term issues. There is a lower chance of an issue arising because the treatment plan is customized to meet the needs of the child. For the majority of patients, the success rate typically ranges between 90% to 95%.f

2. What makes the necessity for Cleft Lip Surgery urgent?

  • The majority of cleft lip surgeries take place between the ages of three and six months in the child. Early repair guarantees that the youngster won't have a significant scar from the procedure and may easily acquire healthy eating and drinking habits. 

3. What are the benefits of undergoing cleft lip and palate surgery?

  • The cleft lip's physical form is altered throughout the procedure. This will also support the development of self-confidence, lessen social stigma, and have an impact on other societal improvements. The procedure will enhance speech production, swallowing practice, and hearing as well.

4. How can I book and schedule an appointment for cleft lip and palate surgery in India?

  • We will assist you in getting expert advice and the best treatment from a panel of specialists. You can contact us via phone at +91-9289678787 or email us at care@getwellgo.com

TREATMENT-RELATED QUESTIONS

GetWellGo will provide you end-to-end guidance and assistance and that will include finding relevant and the best doctors for you in India.

A relationship manager from GetWellGo will be assigned to you who will prepare your case, share with multiple doctors and hospitals and get back to you with a treatment plan, cost of treatment and other useful information. The relationship manager will take care of all details related to your visit and successful return & recovery.

Yes, if you wish GetWellGo can assist you in getting your appointments fixed with multiple doctors and hospitals, which will assist you in getting the second opinion and will help you in cost comparison as well.

Yes, our professional medical team will help you in getting the estimated cost for the treatment. The cost as you may be aware depends on the medical condition, the choice of treatment, the type of room opted for etc.  All your medical history and essential treatment details would be analyzed by the team of experts in the hospitals. They will also provide you with the various types of rooms/accommodation packages available and you have to make the selection. Charges are likely to vary by the type of room you take.

You have to check with your health insurance provider for the details.

The price that you get from GetWellGo is directly from the hospital, it is also discounted and lowest possible in most cases. We help you in getting the best price possible.

No, we don't charge patients for any service or convenience fee. All healthcare services GetWellGo provide are free of cost.

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