Examination of Respiratory Disturbance Index Before and After Cheiloplasty and Palatoplasty.

Background/Objectives: Pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) can cause behavioral and cognitive problems and even physical growth impairment, but it is often under-recognized. Cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) is a common birth defect and known risk factor for SDB. In this study, we examined the sleep breathing status in infants with unilateral CLP (UCLP) before and after cheiloplasty and palatoplasty. Methods: This prospective before-after study included infants with UCLP who could undergo the sleep breathing test and sleep for >1 h. Their sleep breathing status was assessed using a fiber-based sleep apnea sensor (Fiber-Based Sleep Apnea Syndrome Sensor^®) on the day before surgery and 1-3 d after surgery. We calculated and compared the pre- and postoperative respiratory disturbance index (RDI) following the criteria proposed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Results: The mean RDI significantly improved both after cheiloplasty (from 7.5 ± 4.6 to 2.7 ± 1.4 events/h, p = 0.007) and after palatoplasty (from 4.4 ± 2.3 to 1.7 ± 0.4 events/h, p = 0.010). Conclusions: Cheiloplasty and palatoplasty could improve SDB and reduce its adverse effects on the physical growth and development of infants with UCLP.