ROCKET TUBE IN CLEFT LIP AND PALATE PATIENTS

Nasal airway obstruction is a major problem in the postoperative period for babies who are operated for cleft lip/ palate surgeries. The various reasons causing this phenomenon can be small nares in the infants which offer resistance to airflow, obligate nasal breathing in the baby’s up to 6 months of age, the effect of anaesthetic drugs. Further, the airway is also altered due to the surgery for correction of the cleft deformity. To overcome these problems in our institute (Richardson’s dental & craniofacial hospital), we have used a modified nasal airway to ensure that there is no post-operative nasal airway obstruction. An uncuffed endotracheal tube was used in the nasal space of infants who were operated for cleft deformities. This airway device was termed as rocket due to its appearance. A study was also conducted in our institute to check whether there is a reduction in the post-operative airway obstruction when the rocket device was used in cleft infants post-operatively. 1^st group consisted of patients who were operated before using this technique and the 2^nd group consisted of patients who all are operated after using this device for post-operative airway obstruction. 

Rocket tube connected after surgery for a cleft child

Upon comparing the two groups retrospectively, it was found out that there was a drastic reduction in the symptoms of postoperative airway obstruction when the rocket device was used. This device is so much effective in conditions where the preformed nasal airways and nasal stents are not available due to financial constraints. Another advantage of these modified nasal airway devices are its ready availability in the operation theatres all over the world. All types of cleft lip/ palate surgeries, speech surgeries and speech therapy, corrective jaw surgeries for cleft-affected patients are being done at Richardson’s dental & craniofacial hospital by Dr.Sunil Richardson\ and his team.