CEN/TR 16824:2015

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2015
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Early care services for babies born with cleft lip and/or palate
Fürsorgedienstleistungen für Babies mit Lippen-, Kiefer- und Gaumenspalten
Services de prise en charge précoce des bébés nés avec une fente labiale et/ou palatine
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 16824:2015
ICS:
11.020.10 Zdravstvene storitve na Health care services in
splošno general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL REPORT
CEN/TR 16824
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
March 2015
ICS 11.020
English Version
Early care services for babies born with cleft lip and/or palate
Services de prise en charge précoce des bébés nés avec Fürsorgedienstleistungen für Babies mit Lippen-, Kiefer-
une fente labiale et/ou palatine und Gaumenspalten

This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 7 March 2015. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 424.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United
Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2015 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 16824:2015 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .4
Introduction .5
1 Scope .6
2 Terms and definitions .6
3 Diagnosis and referrals .7
3.1 Antenatal diagnosis .7
3.1.1 Recommendations on making the diagnosis .7
3.1.2 Limitation of ultrasound .7
3.1.3 Suspected cleft lip and/or palate .7
3.1.4 Recommendations on referral to the cleft team .8
3.2 Postnatal diagnosis .8
3.2.1 Recommendations on making the diagnosis .8
3.2.2 Recommendations on referrals .9
4 Immediate Postnatal Care .9
4.1 Clinical assessment .9
4.1.1 General .9
4.1.2 Pierre Robin Sequence – managing airway obstruction . 10
4.2 Early parental involvement . 10
5 Feeding . 10
5.1 Knowledge and skills of person providing feeding advice . 10
5.2 Clinical assessment . 10
5.3 Feeding plan . 11
5.4 Growth Measures . 11
6 Monitoring the baby and preparation for surgery . 12
6.1 Monitoring . 12
6.2 Preparation for Surgery . 12
7 Recommendations for involving and supporting parents . 12
7.1 Involving parents . 12
7.2 Parent to parent support . 13
8 The longer term care pathway . 13
8.1 Scope of a care pathway . 13
8.2 Long term care pathway . 14
9 Recommendations for the cleft unit team members and facility requirements . 16
9.1 Team members . 16
9.2 Education and training . 16
9.3 Team management and responsibilities . 16
9.3.1 Communication and coordination . 16
9.3.2 Referral and communication with other professionals . 16
9.3.3 Research . 16
10 Recommendations for organization of the cleft service, including clinical governance and
audit . 16
10.1 Service requirement . 16
10.2 Facilities for parents and children . 17
10.2.1 Out-patient medical and dental care . 17
10.2.2 In-patient care . 17
10.3 Clinical governance . 17
10.4 High quality standards . 17
10.5 Audit, outcome measures and comparative studies . 17
10.5.1 Monitoring short-term and long-term treatment outcomes . 17
10.5.2 National data sets — National Registers and Databases . 18
10.5.3 Future developments . 18
11 Information and education needs . 18
11.1 Families/Caregivers . 18
11.1.1 General . 18
11.1.2 At time of diagnosis (pre and post natal) . 18
11.1.3 Preparation for surgery . 19
11.1.4 Longer term care pathway . 19
11.2 Health professionals . 19
11.3 Social services and education providers . 20
11.4 Governments, healthcare service providers and the general public . 20
12 Information production . 20
Annex A (informative) Types of cleft lip and/or palate . 21
A.1 General . 21
A.2 Incomplete cleft lip . 21
A.3 Cleft of the soft palate . 21
A.4 Complete cleft lip . 22
A.5 Cleft of the soft and hard palate . 22
A.6 Unilateral cleft lip and palate (alveolus involved) . 22
A.7 Bilateral cleft lip and palate (alveolus involved) . 22
Annex B (informative) Pierre Robin Sequence and treatment options (Subclause 4.1.2) . 23
B.1 Pierre Robin Sequence . 23
B.2 Suggested treatment options . 23
Annex C (informative) Bottles and teats used for assisted feeding of babies with cleft. 25
C.1 Example of a squeezable bottle . 25
C.2 Example of squeezable teat. 26
C.3 Example of a sipper spout . 27
Annex D (informative) Description of the role of a nurse specializing in cleft care . 28
Annex E (informative) Sample form used for feeding assessment of babies with cleft . 29
Annex F (informative) Recommendations on treatment records . 33
F.1 General . 33
F.2 Minimum treatment records . 33
F.3 Timing of minimum records . 34
Bibliography . 36

Foreword
This document (CEN/TR 16824:2015) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 424 “Project
Committee - Care services for cleft lip and/or palate”, the secretariat of which is held by ASI.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Introduction
In Europe around 1 in 700 babies is born with cleft lip and/or palate, the most common congenital anomaly of
the head and neck region. The incidence is approximately 1,6 per 1 000 live births, but there is some variance
across Europe [1]. Estimates indicate there are over 900 000 individuals (babies, children and adults) with
clefts in Europe [2] - a significant figure, especially when one considers that not only the patients but also their
families are affected in terms of psychosocial adjustment and having to endure the burden of a long treatment
pathway.
In round figures the incidence by type of cleft may be summarized as follows [3]:
1)
Table 1 — Incidence of Type of Cleft
Type of Cleft Percent of Total
Cleft palate only 50 %
Cleft lip (±alveolus) only 20 %
Cleft lip and palate 20 %
Bilateral cleft lip and palate 10 %

In some cases the cleft may be associated with other problems which need specialist management and these
need to be identified early [4]. Accurate diagnosis (antenatal or post natal), the provision of appropriate
information and support for the family, and the establishment of a structured care pathway, especially in the
early months, will ensure that these infants thrive and develop like all other children. Access to good treatment
varies widely throughout Europe, meaning that many children born with clefts are never given the opportunity
to realize their full potential. The concept of a comprehensive specialist-team approach to care is not
universal. Furthermore babies with clefts are still institutionalized in some countries in Europe [5].
The aim of this report is to provide an informative document which can be used by those countries where
national protocols need to be established.

1) For further information on different types of cleft see Annex A.
1 Scope
This Technical Report specifies recommendations for the care of babies born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate
at time of diagnosis (ante- and/or postnatal) and the year following birth or diagnosis (whichever is later),
including referral processes, establishment of feeding, parental support and care pathways.
Recommendations on all aspects of surgery, including timing and the use of pre surgical orthopaedics is
excluded.
2 Terms and definitions
For the purpose of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
2.1
assisted feeding
use of a soft, squeezable, bottle and/or adjusted teat and/or sipper spout to allow delivery of milk to the infant
who is unable to generate suction to extract fluid independently
Note 1 to entry: It enables the infant to feed, effectively and safely, the required volume within an acceptable time
frame.
Note 2 to entry: For further information on types of bottles and teats used for assisted feeding of babies born with
clefts see Annex C.
2.2
cleft centre
hospital with a designated cleft team and paediatric facilities
2.3
cleft surgeon
surgeon trained in cleft surgery with a major commitment to cleft care and who practices cleft surgery on a
regular and frequent basis
2.4
cleft team
multidisciplinary team which comprises the following members with proven competence in their field of
expertise, paediatric experience and a major commitment to cleft care: a care coordinator/manager of the
service; a surgeon trained in primary cleft surgery; a surgeon specializing in secondary cleft surgery such as
bone grafting and orthognathic surgery; an orthodontist; a speech and language therapist; a nurse specializing
in cleft care; a psychologist with recognized clinical training; an audiologist; an ENT surgeon; a geneticist; a
restorative dentist; a paediatric dentist; a dental technician
Note 1 to entry: While not all specialities will be required for every patient, access to all these practitioners is available
when needed.
Note 2 to entry: If patients receive some aspects of care nearer home (e.g. orthodontics, speech and language
therapy) they receive care by trained specialists working in collaboration with the cleft team.
2.5
Eurocleft
Eurocleft Project 1996 – 2000 funded by the European Commission having the aim to improve management
and understanding of cleft lip and palate and create a network of European researchers and clinicians to
facilitate information exchange
2.6
cleft support organization
non-medical group with paid staff and/or volunteers offering advice and support to families affected by cleft
2.7
nurse specializing in cleft care
specialist responsible for planning and coordination of early cleft care, including feeding assessment,
development of a feeding plan, providing support to the family and liaising with other health care professionals
Note 1 to entry: In the absence of a nurse, these services are provided by another trained professional with similar
skills.
Note 2 to entry: An illustrative role of a nurse specializing in cleft care is provided in Annex C.
2.8
palatal plate
presurgical orthopaedics
intraoral appliance which can be used in the treatment of infants with cleft palate
Note 1 to entry: It can help with feeding and can be used to improve physiological tongue position and to influence
maxillary growth in preparation for surgery.
Note 2 to entry: In newborns with Pierre-Robin-Sequence a plate with velar extension can be helpful to treat upper
airway obstruction and avoid invasive surgical procedures, e.g. tracheostomy.
2.9
Pierre Robin Sequence
sequence of symptoms present in a newborn; micrognathia (small lower jaw), cleft palate, and glossoptosis
(posteriorly placed tongue) that combine to cause airway obstruction
Note 1 to entry: The back of the tongue falls back, particularly when the baby is supine, and occludes the airway.
3 Diagnosis and referrals
3.1 Antenatal diagnosis
3.1.1 Recommendations on making the diagnosis
The foetal face can be studied with ultrasound very early in gestation. Examination of the foetal face should be
a component of guidelines for second trimester ultrasound examination [6].
3.1.2 Limitation of ultrasound
Although the correct ultrasound examination technique should enable clefting of the upper lip to be identified,
it is difficult to detect an isolated cleft palate antenatally [7]. What is often described as a ‘cleft palate’ on
ultrasound may be just a cleft alveolus. Training of the professional undertaking the ultrasound diagnosis
should include information on basic embryology of clefting and how treatment of clefts is managed.
3.1.3 Suspected cleft lip and/or palate
If a cleft has been suspected, there should be a referral to a specialist in ultrasound diagnostics to confirm the
diagnosis. As a cleft lip and/or palate may be associated with other anomalies, early assessment and
diagnosis is necessary.
Clear information about cleft lip and palate should be given to families if a cleft is suspected. Genetic
counselling for patients and families should be available on request. The main topic for discussion is the
association with other anomalies and the recurrence risk for following pregnancy.
If the cleft is part of a complex syndrome, specific information about it and about the foetus viability should be
given to parents during the meeting.
In the absence of other anomalies, a foetus with a cleft does not require a change in standard obstetric care.
3.1.4 Recommendations on referral to the cleft team
The following recommendations should be followed:
— a referral from the antenatal diagnostics unit to a multidisciplinary cleft team and to a cleft support
organization (where it exists) should be made as early as possible after diagnosis; the referring unit
should ensure it maintains up to date contact information on the local or regional cleft team(s);
— parents should be contacted by a member of the cleft team as soon as possible after receiving the
referral; and
— parents should be offered a face to face meeting with a member of the cleft team within one month of the
confirmed diagnosis.
The aim of the referral to the cleft team is to provide parents with support and counselling, giving clear
information about treatment and successful management of cleft lip and palate. Families do not generally
expect the diagnosis or know anything about cleft lip and palate and they have a lot of questions and concerns
about bringing up a child with a cleft. Some families may be thinking about terminating the pregnancy.
Psychosocial support for parents who are expecting a child with a cleft should be available. Parents may need
help in normalizing the pregnancy and understanding that the cleft does not define the baby. The following
topics may need addressing:
— grief adjustment process;
— possible feeling of guilt;
— impact on the family;
— how to handle reactions from others; and
— whether or not it will be possible to breast feed.
Parents should be given contact details for the cleft team and be informed that the team is able to provide
additional information at any stage during the pregnancy. The information needs of families after a diagnosis
of a cleft are provided in Clause 11.
3.2 Postnatal diagnosis
3.2.1 Recommendations on making the diagnosis
Diagnosis of a cleft palate is often missed. Proper assessment of the palate is of paramount importance:
— a palpation of the palate is not sufficient on its own. Routine assessment of all newborn babies should
include a visual inspection of the palate with a torch and spatula to depress the tongue;
— every newborn baby with a cleft should be seen by an experienced paediatrician as soon as possible.
3.2.2 Recommendations on referrals
Each maternity unit should designate a staff member to liaise with the cleft team to ensure that all staff are
familiar with the contact arrangements and maintain an up to date knowledge and understanding of current
practice in providing care for children with a cleft lip/palate.
Neonatal intensive care should be used only where specific needs justify it.
The maternity unit should provide basic information on cleft care such as general explanation of the condition,
the reasons for treatment, treatment options, location of the cleft team, and details of support groups. This
may be supplemented by leaflets, booklets or other kinds of information – websites, posters, and phone
numbers.
Involvement of the cleft team around the birth will be necessary whether or not co morbidities are present,
such as Pierre Robin Sequence (see Annex B).
All babies should be referred by relevant professionals to the cleft team as soon as possible after diagnosis. A
cleft team member (a nurse specializing in cleft care where they exist) should visit at the earliest opportunity
after receiving the referral. The team member will visit the mother at the maternity unit to observe the child
during a feed, offer advice and supply any feeding equipment considered necessary.
4 Immediate Postnatal Care
4.1 Clinical assessment
4.1.1 General
It is important that a baby with a cleft lip/palate has a full clinical assessment by a neonatologist or
paediatrician to rule out any possible comorbidities or associated syndromes. As a guide, the likelihood of co-
morbidities according to cleft type are shown in Table 2:
Table 2 — Co-morbidities associated with cleft type [8]
a
Cleft type Association with co-morbidities (%)
b
cleft palate only 42,3
cleft lip and palate 23,5
cleft lip only 7,6
a
Cleft types are described in Annex A.
b
Most commonly these are airway obstructions (Pierre Robin Sequence) or cardiac abnormalities

If co-morbidities are present there needs to be a consideration as to whether the baby should be referred to
neonatal intensive care. A referral to a genetics team at this stage may also be considered. The
appropriateness of early feeding should be assessed and further investigations should be undertaken if
required.
All children with cleft palate only should be assessed for airway obstruction and possible Pierre Robin
Sequence prior to commencing oral feeding (see 4.1.2).
In the presence of a congenital heart anomaly consider 22q11 deletion syndrome, the second commonest
syndrome after Pierre Robin Sequence associated with cleft palate only.
If no co-morbidities are found, the child can be treated as a well baby.
4.1.2 Pierre Robin Sequence – managing airway obstruction
The airway obstruction in these babies can be managed in a variety of ways including positioning (e.g. nursing
the baby in a side lying position), use of intra oral plates and insertion of a nasopharyngeal airway – see
Annex B). Tracheostomy and jaw distraction or other invasive surgical procedures in the absence of additional
anomalies should be avoided. Pierre Robin Sequence may be associated with Sticklers Syndrome so it is
recommended that these babies have a genetic, ENT and ophthalmological assessment to exclude this.
4.2 Early parental involvement
The post natal period provides a window for parent/child bonding. This important aspect of early care should
not be overlooked in the prioritizing of clinical care and support for a child born with a cleft. The following
recommendations should be respected:
— the child should be kept with the mother on the postnatal ward unless there are co-morbidities
necessitating a neonatal intensive care environment;
— both parents should be involved in the care of the child and they should be kept informed of their child’s
diagnosis and treatment; and
— parents may need additional support to adjust to their child’s diagnosis and help with the bonding
process.
5 Feeding
5.1 Knowledge and skills of person providing feeding advice
These should include the following items:
— paediatric skills;
— counselling skills; and
— knowledge of normal and abnormal feeding mechanisms.
5.2 Clinical assessment
Feeding should only be commenced after a full clinical assessment has been performed (see 4.1).
Premature babies may not manage oral or assisted feeding and may require nasogastric feeding initially. Oral
feeding from the breast or a normal bottle can be commenced if there are no co-morbidities.
A feeding assessment should be undertaken by a health care professional with special knowledge of feeding
mechanisms and skills within cleft before commencing assisted feeding. Children without co-morbidities
should be able to safely feed orally.
A detailed checklist for a clinical assessment of feeding is provided in Annex E.
5.3 Feeding plan
Prior to discharge of the mother and baby from hospital, the priority is to enable effective feeding of the child.
A nasogastric tube should be used only in cases where comorbidities or specific needs exist. Sometimes a
palatal plate may be used to facilitate the feeding process.
The following recommendations should be followed when establishing a feeding plan:
— the cleft team should be involved in all decisions about feeding;
— a feeding plan should be developed preferably supporting the mother’s preference for feeding;
— mothers should be encouraged to breast feed where possible;
— if assisted feeding is necessary, parents should be encouraged to use expressed breast milk;
— skin to skin contact to promote lactation and breastfeeding/breast milk feeding should be encouraged;
— both parents should be involved in all aspects of feeding and should be the principle feeders;
— appropriate tools (bottles/teats) and techniques to assist feeding should be available and parents
instructed how to use them (see Annex C);
— equipment to support the giving of expressed breast milk should be available where possible; and
— a cleft team member (a nurse specializing in cleft care where they exist) should ensure the baby receives
necessary follow up and feeding reviews after discharge from hospital.
Additional support should be offered to parents with the introduction of solid foods at 4 months – 6 months.
5.4 Growth Measures
It is important that growth is closely observed and that the baby thrives and is well enough for first surgery.
Length, head circumference and weight should all be monitored.
When monitoring the weight of the baby, the following information should be recorded:
— birthweight (noting any prematurity), and
— initial weight loss (loss of more than 10 % of birthweight is abnormal).
Weight should be recorded at the following intervals:
— weekly for first month of life;
— two weekly for second month; and
— monthly until 6 months.
Some children may require an increased amount of calories and/or the temporary use of a nasogastric tube to
maintain a healthy weight gain (particularly those with Pierre Robin Sequence and other co-morbidities).
6 Monitoring the baby and preparation for surgery
6.1 Monitoring
Ongoing monitoring of the child’s care needs is imperative and should include input from the cleft team (cleft
nurse if available). The following provides a checklist for assessment and action:
— continued paediatric surveillance for any co-morbidities such as cardiac anomalies, airway issues and
associated syndromes;
— referrals should be made to other health care professionals as necessary i.e. Cardiologist, ENT,
Geneticist, etc.;
— a hearing test should take place as soon as possible after birth and again preoperatively. Repeat testing
should take place at 18 months old, 3 years, 5 years and 10 years and as clinically indicated;
— continuous assessment of dental and facial development should be provided by an orthodontist familiar
with maxilliary and mandibular growth patterns. Dental health should also be monitored.
6.2 Preparation for Surgery
The following arrangements should be in place to ensure the child and family are prepared for surgery:
— pre surgery orthopaedics may be considered and this should be explained to the parents;
— all parents should have the opportunity of visiting the ward at the surgical centre prior to any surgery
being undertaken and be offered counselling and support if needed;
— parents should be offered a consultation with the cleft surgeon who will perform the primary surgery, and
all patients should be seen in outpatients at least once prior to any surgery being undertaken;
— an audiological assessment should be undertaken to determine whether ear tubes (grommets) should be
inserted during surgery;
— an assessment should be made by the cleft team of the child’s safety for surgery;
— the surgery in children should be done under general anaesthetic with a well-trained paediatric
anaesthesiologist;
— there should be additional clinical assessments prior to surgery if any other anomalies are present e.g.
sleep observation (airway issues) and cardiac ECHO review;
— informed parental consent should be sought prior to surgery.
7 Recommendations for involving and supporting parents
7.1 Involving parents
Shared decision-making about treatment has the potential to improve health outcomes, improve patient
satisfaction and to save costs. However, there are barriers to involving parents: Appointments may take
longer, parents may find it hard to challenge decisions made by health professionals, health professionals
may find it hard to have their decisions questioned.
Therefore, patient involvement should be built into the care process:
— parents should be encouraged by health professionals to take part in decisions about treatment and
enough time should be allowed for this at medical appointments;
— parents should be helped to weigh up the pros and cons of different treatments;
— health professionals should give parents the opportunity to feedback on the care they have received and
the outcomes of treatment; and
— parents should have access to timely information to help them make decisions about treatment. The
quality of the information is important and it should be accurate, unbiased and evidence based (see 11.1).
7.2 Parent to parent support
Parents can find it helpful to receive support from other parents who have been in the same situation. This can
include both practical and emotional support but should not include medical advice which should only be given
by health professionals. This support is valuable from the time of diagnosis where parents share photos of
their babies before and after surgery through the whole treatment pathway.
The development of a parent-focused cleft support organization should be encouraged. This organization
should be able to:
— provide non-medical advice and support to parents;
— create opportunities for parents to contact other parents either face to face or through online or phone
contact;
— bridge the gap between the parent and the healthcare provider; and
— act as an independent monitor of cleft health services.
The cleft team should provide information about the cleft support organization to all parents at the time of first
diagnosis and at other key stages of treatment.
Local, national and international patient support organizations can be helpful in supporting families through the
long treatment process.
8 The longer term care pathway
8.1 Scope of a care pathway
While the focus of this report is on the early care of babies born with clefts, it is important to understand that
cleft care will last from birth to maturity, and in some cases well into adulthood. There are many aspects of
care and treatment required. The overall objective of a cleft service is to:
a) coordinate the total care of the patient from infancy through to adulthood;
b) ensure that the cleft lip and /or palate is well repaired and the child‘s growth, development and function
maximized;
c) put in place arrangements for ongoing care and treatment of adult patients where clinically indicated;
d) ensure that care is organized and provided in such a way that it:
1) respects the needs and wishes of the child, parent or guardian;
2) recognizes the nature of the original birth anomaly;
3) optimizes the psychological well-being of the patient and family;
4) facilitates speech and language progress;
5) ensures optimal hearing;
6) optimizes facial appearance; and
7) enables appropriate dentofacial growth.
8.2 Long term care pathway
Care pathways will differ across different units. Table 3 contains a general guide illustrating the key
interventions normally provided from birth to maturity at specific age brackets across different disciplines.
Table 3 — Care Pathway
Antenatal Birth to 1,5 years 1,5 to 5 years 6 to 10 years 11 to 20 21 years +
years
Ultrasound Diagnosis confirmed at ENT and ENT and Orthodontic Possible
diagnosis birth. audiology audiology care and orthognathic
confirmed. assessment assessment/ treatment. surgery.
Assessment of
and treatment. treatment.
Referral to Preparation Psycho-
presence of co-
cleft specialist morbidities. Speech and Speech and for possible logical
team. language language orthognathic assessment
Referral to cleft team.
therapy therapy surgery. and
Antenatal
Visit by specialist assessment assessment intervention
counselling Psychologic
and advice at and therapy as where
advisor/nurse
and support. al
2–3 years, required. necessary.
specializing in cleft
assessment
Provision of therapy as
care.
Paediatric and Routine
written required.
Feeding assessment. dental care. intervention dental care.
information.
Psychological where
Review of
Feeding plan.
Information on assessment necessary.
overall
and
feeding Meeting offered with
management. Paediatric
options and intervention
parent/patient group.
and
where
presurgical Audit of data
restorative
Registration on
infant necessary. set at 10
dental care.
anomaly database.
orthopaedics years.
Paediatric
(if used) Audit data
Post natal support and
dental care. Orthodontic
set at 15
counselling.
Information care and
Audit at 5 years and
about patient treatment.
Provision of written
years. 20 years.
groups.
information.
Secondary
Possible Possible
surgery –
Speech and language
revision revision
alveolar bone
therapy assessment
surgery and surgery and
graft.
and advice.
velopha- velopha-
ryngeal ryngeal
Possible
Pre-surgery visits.
surgery. revision surgery.
Pre-surgery infant
surgery and
Routine dental Routine
orthopaedics (if used)
velopha-
care. dental care.
ryngeal
Supported by nurse
Orthodontic surgery. Genetic
specializing in cleft
assessment counselling.
care.
Routine dental
care.
Surgery according to
local timing protocols.
Psychological
assessment
Routine dental care.
and
Early orthodontic
intervention
assessment.
where
necessary.
ENT and audiology
assessment and
treatment.
Psychological
assessment and
intervention where
necessary.
9 Recommendations for the cleft unit team members and facility requirements
9.1 Team members
The composition of the cleft team is according to the definition of the term in 2.4.
9.2 Education and training
A main cleft centre should provide specialist staff training for all staff of the cleft team. Lead clinicians should
be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional education and training for all staff involved in
the network of provision of cleft care. Where surgical and orthodontic trainees participate in care this should
be as part of a defined training programme and in high volume centres.
9.3 Team management and responsibilities
9.3.1 Communication and coordination
The principal role of the multidisciplinary team is to provide case management to ensure quality and continuity
of patient care and follow-up. Each patient seen by the team requires comprehensive, multidisciplinary
individualized treatment planning to achieve best outcomes with efficient use of parent/caregiver and patient
time and resources. Teams should have a mechanism for achieving consensus with involved professionals
and parents on treatment plans. Patient records, including images and X-rays, should be transferable in case
of any family geographical movements.
9.3.2 Referral and communication with other professionals
The team should have a process for referring patients to local care providers when necessary and
appropriate. The team should implement a process for information exchange with primary care professionals,
outside agencies, and other professionals involved with the welfare of the patient. The team should also
ensure referring bodies (such as diagnostic and obstetric units) are kept up to date with team contact details.
Cleft teams should make a special effort to maintain contact with the paediatrician/family doctor of each child
to support patient follow-up and coordinate healthcare needs, for as long as the patient needs it.
9.3.3 Research
Cleft teams should be encouraged to carry out research into treatment and prevention of cleft lip and palate
and related syndromes in order that the management and treatment is evidence based.
NOTE For further reference see ACPA guidelines in the Bibliography.
10 Recommendations for organization of the cleft service, including clinical
governance and audit
10.1 Service requirement
The complexities of cleft care management and treatment, from post natal care to adulthood, require that the
service should have:
— access to High Dependency Units (HDU)/Paediatric Intensive Care Units;
— access to paediatric surgical area including recovery area;
— dental clinics which facilitate orthodontics and paediatric dental services;
— access to ENT/Audiological services;
— access to speech and language therapy services;
— computer support which facilitates web based data entry for submission to cleft registers; and
— appropriate facilities for inpatients and multidisciplinary clinics (number and kind of rooms, play areas,
waiting areas) and facilities should at least meet paediatric standards.
10.2 Facilities for parents and children
10.2.1 Out-patient medical and dental care
Ideally, children receiving out-patient hospital care or dental care should be seen in a separate children's clinic
area which is suitably equipped. If this is not possible, and children have to be seen during an adult clinic
session, their appointments should be “clustered” preferably at the beginning of the session. A discrete area in
the adult department should be designated for the exclusive use of children. Toys and diversionary activities
should be available. The clinic staff should include a a health care professional (a nurse specialising in cleft
care, where they exist) experienced and skilled in the management of chil
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