Examination of Respiratory Disturbance Index Before and After Cheiloplasty and Palatoplasty

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> 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. <b>Methods:</b> 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. <b>Results:</b> The mean RDI significantly improved both after cheiloplasty (from 7.5 ± 4.6 to 2.7 ± 1.4 events/h, <i>p</i> = 0.007) and after palatoplasty (from 4.4 ± 2.3 to 1.7 ± 0.4 events/h, <i>p</i> = 0.010). <b>Conclusions:</b> Cheiloplasty and palatoplasty could improve SDB and reduce its adverse effects on the physical growth and development of infants with UCLP.