Predictor Variables of Intraoperative Blood Loss during Cleft Palate Surgery

Study design: Cross-sectional study Objectives: To determine the predictor variables associated with blood loss during cleft palate surgery. Method: This was carried out for 12 months. Pre-operative records of each participant were taken including the age, sex, BMI, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, the length of the cleft defect and the width. Blood loss was determined using colorimetric method of measurement. The blood loss was calculated using the appropriate formula. Multiple regression analysis was done to determine the predictors of increased blood loss. Statistical analysis was carried out with IBM SPSS version 23.0 (2015) with statistical significance assessed at a p-value of ≤ 0.05, and a 95% confidence interval. Result: A total of 39 participants were recruited for this study, with a median age of 24 (IQR: 21–48) months. The mean length of the defects was 32.1±2.6 mm while the mean duration of surgery was 118.1±38.1 mm. The median value of the intra-operative blood loss was 40.2(IQR: 26.7–60.5). The duration of surgery and the age of the patient were the only statistically significant variables in regression analysis (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Predictor variables of increased intra-operative blood loss were the duration of surgery and the age of the patient.