Palate repair age for children with Pierre Robin Sequence can vary quite dramatically. Shape and size of the cleft (wide and arched), the breathing difficulties of the child and, to some degree, preference of the surgeon, will all affect the timing of the cleft repair surgery. Most often repairs will fall between about the age of 18 months to 3 years.
Your baby will be seen on regular occasions by the Craniofacial Team or, in some locations or countries, a Plastic Surgery team. These are the doctors who will determine when the time is right for your child to have the cleft repaired. Always ask if you are unsure about any aspect of the timing of the surgery. Many factors need to be considered and weighed up before a decision to operate is finally made and these may not seem obvious to you without explanation. More information on surgery is also available from Wide Smiles.
It is often found that the more breathing problems a child has at birth, the more likely they are to have breathing problems after surgery. High-risk children are often nursed in the Intensive Care ward after their operation. High risk children may also have their repair delayed for a longer period than those of lower risk, allowing growth of the child to increase the size of his or her airway as much as possible.
Be aware that any anesthetic can be a problem due to narrow airways - always remember to inform doctors and dentists that your child has Pierre Robin Sequence so they can be well prepared in advance for airway management. This will be a permanent issue for your child in relation to
anesthetics and there will always be a need to remind anesthetists of this past airway problem even into old age.
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Copyright © 2000, Michelle Cruse, Last Updated - 26/01/2000 16:05:16