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Fell M, Goldwasser M, Jayanth BS, Pereira RMR, Nawej CT, Winer R, Daftari N, Brewster H, Goldschmied K, Almas CF, Eshete M, Galiwango GW, Hollier LH, Hussain A, Lo LJ, Salins P, Sell D, Tafase A, Zuker RM. Adapting Elements of Cleft Care Protocols in Low- and Middle-income Countries During and After COVID-19: A Process-driven Review With Recommendations. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2022; 60:526-535. [PMID: 34982012 PMCID: PMC10102820 DOI: 10.1177/10556656211069827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A consortium of global cleft professionals, predominantly from low- and middle-income countries, identified adaptations to cleft care protocols during and after COVID-19 as a priority learning area of need. A multidisciplinary international working group met on a videoconferencing platform in a multi-staged process to make consensus recommendations for adaptations to cleft protocols within resource-constrained settings. Feedback was sought from a roundtable discussion forum and global organizations involved in comprehensive cleft care. Foundational principles were agreed to enable recommendations to be globally relevant and two areas of focus within the specified topic were identified. First the safety aspects of cleft surgery protocols were scrutinized and COVID-19 adaptations, specifically in the pre- and perioperative periods, were highlighted. Second, surgical procedures and cleft care services were prioritized according to their relationship to functional outcomes and time-sensitivity. The surgical procedures assigned the highest priority were emergent interventions for breathing and nutritional requirements and primary palatoplasty. The cleft care services assigned the highest priority were new-born assessments, pediatric support for children with syndromes, management of acute dental or auditory infections and speech pathology intervention. A collaborative, interdisciplinary and international working group delivered consensus recommendations to assist with the provision of cleft care in low- and middle-income countries. At a time of global cleft care delays due to COVID-19, a united approach amongst global cleft care providers will be advantageous to advocate for children born with cleft lip and palate in resource-constrained settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Fell
- CLEFT Charity, Chelmsford, UK.,Cleft Collective, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Michael Goldwasser
- Operation Smile, Virginia Beach, USA.,Craniofacial and Surgical Care, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Rui Manuel Rodrigues Pereira
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sau Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof Fernando Figueira, Recife, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Karen Goldschmied
- Craniofacial and Surgical Care, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Mekonen Eshete
- Cleft Lip and Palate Program, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Larry H Hollier
- Smile Train Global Medical Advisory Board, New York, USA.,Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Akhter Hussain
- ABMSS, Bengaluru, India.,Yenepoya Dental College, Karnataka, India
| | - Lun-Jou Lo
- Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan.,Craniofacial Center, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Paul Salins
- ABMSS, Bengaluru, India.,Mazumdar Shaw Medical Centre, Karnataka, India
| | - Debbie Sell
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Amanuel Tafase
- Project Harar, London United Kingdom and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ronald M Zuker
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,The University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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