Delayed detection of cleft palate: an audit of newborn examination

Abstract

Delayed detection of cleft palate was not uncommon, and the features of those more likely to be missed suggested digital examination was related. Trainee doctors and midwives should be instructed to inspect visually using a light and tongue depressor, then digitally if submucous cleft palate is suspected.

The value of the postnatal examination in improving child health

“…A cleft lip and/or palate is the fourth most common congenital birth defect47 with a UK birth prevalence of 1 in 700 48. A cleft lip is obvious to everyone the minute the baby is born, but there is a recognised delay in detecting an isolated cleft palate with between 28% and 31% not being detected on day 1 of life 48 49.…”

“…A cleft lip is obvious to everyone the minute the baby is born, but there is a recognised delay in detecting an isolated cleft palate with between 28% and 31% not being detected on day 1 of life 48 49. Early diagnosis is obviously optimal, so newborn infants are routinely examined for the presence of a cleft palate.…”

Health professional communication and the diagnosis and care of infants born with cleft lip and palate in the U.K.

“…Consequently, an isolated cleft palate may not be diagnosed until a neonatal examination is conducted. Even then, a cleft palate may be missed if the examination is not thorough (Habel et al, 2006).…”

The incidence of cleft lip and palate in the Czech Republic in 1994–2008

“…In 1960, the Ministry of Health founded the Institute of Health Information and Statistics, with the aim of collecting and processing medical data, including congenital birth defects in the National Birth Defects Register (NBDR). Nowadays the congenital birth defects detected by prenatal diagnostics, among spontaneous abortions over 500 g of weight, stillborns and children till the fi nished 15 th year of age are registered, this gives the physicians enough time to diagnose even latent anomalies using additional techniques such as X-ray (7)(8). Since 2009, the Czech NBDR has been a member of the European register of congenital anomalies called EUROCAT (European Network of Registers for the Epidemiologic Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies).…”