Skeletofacial Reconstruction for Cleft-Related Deformities: Four Decades of Evolving Cleft Care.

Skeletofacial reconstruction in skeletally mature patients with cleft lip/palate can be challenging because of multifaceted condition-specific anatomical features in addition to several repercussions from surgical intervention during the growing period. This surgical report presents the history and evolving philosophy of cleft-skeletofacial reconstruction at the Chang Gung Craniofacial Center, a referral center for cleft care in Taiwan. The maximization of satisfactory function and the appearance outcome-burden ratio have been the fundamental aims for this team to develop and upgrade cleft-skeletofacial reconstruction over the past 4 decades, with more than 10,000 mature patients treated. The study highlights key lessons learned in outcome-based and patient-oriented changes over time until the current approach, which focuses on patient-centered care with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and team-based model. Substantial advances in surgical, orthodontic, anesthetic, and computer imaging aspects have contributed to improving and optimizing the correction of a broad spectrum of facial and occlusal deformities while ensuring safety, predictability, efficiency, and stability in outcomes. Understanding the development and refinement of cleft-skeletofacial reconstruction over the time and transferring these time-tested and scientifically validated protocols and principles to clinical practice may serve as a reliable foundation to continue the advancement and enhancement of the delivery of surgical cleft care worldwide.

Effects of Hypotensive Anesthesia on Reducing Intraoperative Blood Loss, Duration of Operation, and Quality of Surgical Field During Orthognathic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hypotensive anesthesia in reducing intraoperative blood loss, decreasing operation time, and improving the quality of the surgical field during orthognathic surgery. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials addressing these issues were carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic database search was performed. The risk of bias was evaluated with the Jadad Scale and Delphi List. The inverse variance statistical method and a random-effects model were used. RESULTS: Ten randomized controlled trials were included for analysis. Our meta-analysis indicated that hypotensive anesthesia reduced intraoperative blood loss by a mean of about 169 mL. Hypotensive anesthesia was not shown to reduce the operation time for orthognathic surgery, but it did improve the quality of the surgical field. Subgroup analysis indicated that for blood loss in double-jaw surgery, the weighted mean difference favored the hypotensive group, with a reduction in blood loss of 175 mL, but no statistically significant reduction in blood loss was found for anterior maxillary osteotomy. If local anesthesia with epinephrine was used in conjunction with hypotensive anesthesia, the reduction in intraoperative blood loss was increased to 254.93 mL. CONCLUSIONS: Hypotensive anesthesia was effective in reducing blood loss and improving the quality of the surgical field, but it did not reduce the operation time for orthognathic surgery. The use of local anesthesia in conjunction with hypotensive general anesthesia further reduced the amount of intraoperative blood loss for orthognathic surgery.

Correction of Facial Deformity in Sturge-Weber Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have reported soft-tissue management in surgical treatment of Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), there are few reports describing facial bone surgery in this patient group. The purpose of this study is to examine the validity of our multidisciplinary algorithm for correcting facial deformities associated with SWS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on orthognathic surgery for SWS patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review included 2 SWS patients who completed the surgical treatment algorithm. Radiographic and clinical data were recorded, and a treatment algorithm was derived. RESULTS: According to the Roach classification, the first patient was classified as type I presenting with both facial and leptomeningeal vascular anomalies without glaucoma and the second patient as type II presenting only with a hemifacial capillary malformation. Considering positive findings in seizure history and intracranial vascular anomalies in the first case, the anesthetic management was modified to omit hypotensive anesthesia because of the potential risk of intracranial pressure elevation. Primarily, both patients underwent 2-jaw orthognathic surgery and facial bone contouring including genioplasty, zygomatic reduction, buccal fat pad removal, and masseter reduction without major complications. In the second step, the volume and distribution of facial soft tissues were altered by surgical resection and reposition. Both patients were satisfied with the surgical result. CONCLUSIONS: Our multidisciplinary algorithm can systematically detect potential risk factors. Correction of the asymmetric face by successive bone and soft-tissue surgery enables the patients to reduce their psychosocial burden and increase their quality of life.

Factors influencing time of intubation with a lightwand device in patients without known airway abnormality.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between accepted screening tests for difficult tracheal intubation and ease of intubation with a lightwand blind technique. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Anesthetic rooms of a university hospital. PATIENTS: 122 female, ASA physical status I, II, and III patients requiring tracheal intubation for elective surgery. INTERVENTIONS: After receiving a standardized anesthetic induction, patients first underwent direct laryngoscopy to determine Cormack laryngoscopy grade, then tracheal intubation was performed using a transillumination method. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patient demographics, Mallampati class (MC), mouth opening (MO; cm), and thyromental distance (TMD; cm) were all measured and the values recorded. Body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) was calculated for each patient. Laryngoscopy grades obtained by laryngoscopy were also recorded. Times to intubation were measured by a chronometer and failures were recorded. Patients were then allocated to groups according to the measured parameters: BMI > or = 30 kg/m2, BMI < 30 kg/m2; TMD > or = 6 cm, TMD < 6 cm; MO > or = 3, MO < 3; MC I, MC II, MC III, MC IV, and Laryngoscopy Grade (LG) 1, LG 2, LG 3, LG 4. Intubation times at the first attempt were compared within the groups for each variable. The total results of 119 patients were studied; overall success was 99%, and mean time to intubation at the first attempt was 9.2 +/- 4.9 seconds. Although time to intubation was prolonged with increasing Mallampati and laryngoscopy scores, and in the TMD < 6 cm and BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 groups, only the MC III and BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 groups represented a statistically significant difference of prolongation. Mean time to intubation in the MC III and BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 groups were 13.2 +/- 5.4 (p = 0.011) and 14.8 +/- 1.7 (p < or = 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: Mallampati class III airway significantly increases time to intubation when the transillumination technique is used. BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 is another factor that interferes with the ease and success of intubation with this technique.

Airway management in a patient with a cleft palate after pharyngoplasty: a case report.

PURPOSE: To describe a practical method of aiding nasotracheal intubation in a cleft palate patient with previous pharyngoplasty using a suction catheter under tactile guidance. Problems of airway management in these patients are also discussed. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 26-yr-old woman presented for elective Le Fort maxillary osteotomy. She had a history of cleft lip and palate and subsequent palatoplasty and pharyngeal flap. She had no symptoms of upper airway obstruction or obstructive sleep apnea. Preoperative examination revealed a hypernasal voice and patent nasal passages. Anesthesia was induced and the patient paralyzed. An attempt to pass a 6.5-mm cuffed endotracheal tube through the right nostril met with resistance. A suction catheter was introduced into the nostril, while a finger was positioned over the flap and the velopharyngeal port, until its tip rested against the flap, the catheter coiled and a small loop could be palpated past the patent velopharyngeal port. The catheter was then hooked into the oropharynx. The endotracheal tube was "railroaded" over it and advanced into the glottis. There was minimal bleeding and no desaturation during the procedure. CONCLUSION: Preoperative determination of the type of pharyngoplasty is essential to understand the anatomy of the patent velopharyngeal port. A history of pharyngeal flap infection, hyponasal voice or upper airway obstruction suggests possible port stenosis. We describe a tactile guided technique that is useful and practical. Use of a flexible suction catheter of small external diameter minimizes the potential for trauma, bleeding and creation of false passages.