Cleft Lip/Palate
Cleft Lip/Palate
1. The CDC defines these as birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip and/or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy.
2. Causes listed by Medline include genes from either parent, drugs, viruses, and other toxins. Risk factors from the CDC include smoking, diabetes, and use of certain epilepsy medications like topiramate and valproic acid.
3. Usually, Mayo Clinic says, a cleft is immediately identified at birth through physical assessment, though occasionally submucous cleft is not seen and shows signs like difficulty swallowing, nasal voice, and chronic ear infections.
4. Testing, according to all sources, is a simple physical exam after birth, but is seen more often during ultrasounds.
5. Medline states that treatment
involves surgery between 6 weeks and 9 months and then later in life for the more severe conditions. Also, continuous follow-ups with other specialists like an EENT, speech therapist, or orthodontist are needed.
6. Nursing Interventions:
a. Educate parents on condition.
b. Educate parents on how to care for their child.
c. Prevent aspiration.
d. Ensure proper amount of nutrition.
e. Prepare child for surgery.
f. Provide postoperative care.
g. Monitor child’s growth and development.
h. Educate on the importance of follow-ups with all the proper doctors.
i. Monitor hearing levels.
j. Assess speech.
7. Nursing Diagnoses from Lynda Carpenito:
a. Impaired tissue integrity R/T cleft.
b. Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements R/T inability to properly suck.
c. Risk of infection R/T food retention in oral cavity.
d. Ineffective infant feeding R/T lack of knowledge on proper feeding techniques.
e. Ineffective socialization R/T physical abnormalities.
8. Medline lists long-term problems as surgeries for more severe conditions, teeth corrections by dentists/orthodontists, hearing problems, and speech problems.
1. The CDC defines these as birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip and/or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy.
2. Causes listed by Medline include genes from either parent, drugs, viruses, and other toxins. Risk factors from the CDC include smoking, diabetes, and use of certain epilepsy medications like topiramate and valproic acid.
3. Usually, Mayo Clinic says, a cleft is immediately identified at birth through physical assessment, though occasionally submucous cleft is not seen and shows signs like difficulty swallowing, nasal voice, and chronic ear infections.
4. Testing, according to all sources, is a simple physical exam after birth, but is seen more often during ultrasounds.
5. Medline states that treatment
involves surgery between 6 weeks and 9 months and then later in life for the more severe conditions. Also, continuous follow-ups with other specialists like an EENT, speech therapist, or orthodontist are needed.
6. Nursing Interventions:
a. Educate parents on condition.
b. Educate parents on how to care for their child.
c. Prevent aspiration.
d. Ensure proper amount of nutrition.
e. Prepare child for surgery.
f. Provide postoperative care.
g. Monitor child’s growth and development.
h. Educate on the importance of follow-ups with all the proper doctors.
i. Monitor hearing levels.
j. Assess speech.
7. Nursing Diagnoses from Lynda Carpenito:
a. Impaired tissue integrity R/T cleft.
b. Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements R/T inability to properly suck.
c. Risk of infection R/T food retention in oral cavity.
d. Ineffective infant feeding R/T lack of knowledge on proper feeding techniques.
e. Ineffective socialization R/T physical abnormalities.
8. Medline lists long-term problems as surgeries for more severe conditions, teeth corrections by dentists/orthodontists, hearing problems, and speech problems.