Interventions for the management of submucous cleft palate

Occult subtotal cleft of the secondary palate with VPI associated to 8q22.2 deletion

BACKGROUND

Submucous cleft palate is a cleft of the secondary palate with low phenotypic gene expression. It can occur as an isolated malformation or associated with a syndrome that includes certain facial features and other vocal tract malformations. Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is rare in cases of non - syndromic occult clefts of the secondary palate (OSCSP). In contrast, syndromic OCSP has a high prevalence of VPI. VPI requires surgical treatment in the vast majority of cases.

OBJECTIVE

To present a case of OSCSP with VPI after partial tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T & A) associated with facial features and other vocal tract malformations. A chromosomal abnormality (8q22.2 deletion) was demonstrated by cytogenetic testing.

CASE PRESENTATION

Eight year old female with VPI following partial T & A. OSCSP was diagnosed. Complete T & A was performed in preparation for a pharyngeal flap. Pharyngeal flap surgery was customized according to findings of videonasopharyngoscopy (VNP) and multiplanar videofluoroscopy (MPVF). VPI was corrected without intraoperative or postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

The presence of multiple vocal tract malformations should be a red flag for suspecting a syndromic OSCSP. Surgical treatment of VPI in cases of OSCSP should be performed after complete T & A, Imaging procedures for assessing neck blood vessels and it should be customized according to imaging (VNP and MPVF) findings.

Craniofacial syndromes and sleep-related breathing disorders

Children with craniofacial syndromes are at risk of sleep disordered breathing, the most common being obstructive sleep apnea. Midface hypoplasia in children with craniosynostosis and glossoptosis in children with Pierre Robin syndrome are well recognized risk factors, but the etiology is often multifactorial and many children have multilevel airway obstruction. We examine the published evidence and explore the current management strategies in these complex patients. Some treatment modalities are similar to those used in otherwise healthy children such as adenotonsillectomy, positive pressure ventilation and in the refractory cases, tracheostomy. However, there are some distinct approaches such as nasopharyngeal airways, tongue lip adhesion, mandibular distraction osteogenesis in children with Pierre Robin sequence, and midface advancement in children with craniosynostoses. Clinicians should have a low threshold for referral for evaluation of sleep-disordered-breathing in these patients.

Methodological quality and implications for practice of systematic Cochrane reviews in pediatric oral health: a critical assessment

BACKGROUND

To ensure evidence-based decision-making in pediatric oral health, Cochrane systematic reviews that address topics pertinent to this field are necessary. We aimed to identify all systematic reviews of paediatric dentistry and oral health by the Cochrane Oral Health Group (COHG), summarize their characteristics and assess their methodological quality. Our second objective was to assess implications for practice in the review conclusions and provide an overview of clinical implications about the usefulness of paediatric oral health interventions in practice.

METHODS

We conducted a methodological survey including all paediatric dentistry reviews from the COHG. We extracted data on characteristics of included reviews, then assessed the methodological quality using a validated 11-item quality assessment tool (AMSTAR). Finally, we coded each review to indicate whether its authors concluded that an intervention should be implemented in practice, was not supported or was refuted by the evidence, or should be used only in research (inconclusive evidence).

RESULTS

We selected 37 reviews; most concerned the prevention of caries. The methodological quality was high, except for the assessment of reporting bias. In 7 reviews (19%), the research showed that benefits outweighed harms; in 1, the experimental intervention was found ineffective; and in 29 (78%), evidence was insufficient to assess benefits and harms. In the 7 reviews, topical fluoride treatments (with toothpaste, gel or varnish) were found effective for permanent and deciduous teeth in children and adolescents, and sealants for occlusal tooth surfaces of permanent molars.

CONCLUSIONS

Cochrane reviews of paediatric dentistry were of high quality. They provided strong evidence that topical fluoride treatments and sealants are effective for children and adolescents and thus should be implemented in practice. However, a substantial number of reviews yielded inconclusive evidence.

Velopharyngeal insufficiency, submucous cleft palate and a phonological disorder as the associated clinical features which led to the diagnosis of Jacobsen syndrome. Case report and review of the literature

Jacobsen syndrome is an uncommon but well-known contiguous gene syndrome caused by partial deletion involving the long arm of chromosome 11. Most common features include: psychomotor impairment, facial dysmorphism, and thrombocytopenia. Cleft palate has been rarely reported. A case of Jacobsen syndrome confirmed by cytogenomic analysis is presented with review of the literature. Main clinical features were phonological disorder, submucous cleft palate (SMCP) and velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). VPI was corrected surgically according to findings of videonasopharyngoscopy and videofluoroscopy. It is concluded that clinicians should consider that VPI associated with SMCP may be the main manifestations of a chromosomal syndrome.

Systematic reviews of surgical procedures in children: quantity, coverage and quality

AIM

Systematic reviews have the potential to map those areas where children are under-represented in surgical research. We aimed to describe and evaluate the quantity, coverage and the quality of conduct and reporting of systematic reviews of surgical procedures in children.

METHODS

We searched four biomedical databases, a systematic review register, reference lists and conducted hand searching to identify relevant reviews. Two reviewers worked independently to critically appraise included studies and abstract data. We assessed reporting quality using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis statement and methodological quality using the Assessment of Multiple SysTemAtic Reviews tool.

RESULTS

Fifteen systematic reviews were identified, representing 0.01% of all paediatric surgical citations in MEDLINE and Embase. Thirteen of the reviews were Cochrane reviews, and most reviews (12/15) addressed subspecialty interests such as otorhinolaryngology. The median number of included trials per systematic review was four (interquartile range 1 to 9.5), the median number of primary outcomes was 5.5 (interquartile range 3.5 to 7.5). In general, reporting and methodological quality was good although there were several omissions, particularly around completeness of reporting of statistical methods used, and utilisation of quality assessments in analyses. Outcomes were often not clearly defined and descriptions of procedures lacked sufficient detail to determine the similarities and differences among surgical procedures within the contributing trials.

CONCLUSION

Systematic reviews of surgical procedures in children are rarely published. To improve the evidence base and guide research agendas, more systematic reviews should be conducted, using standard guidelines for conduct and reporting.