Therapeutic management for patients with cleft lip and palate complicated by sleep apnea syndrome: A case report

We treated a patient with cleft lip and palate by palatoplasty, and he subsequently developed sleep apnea. We then performed tonsillectomy, to improve the sleep apnea, and were able to do this successfully without impairing velopharyngeal function. This successful result was achieved by collaboration between the oral and maxillofacial surgeons who initially performed the palatoplasty and the otolaryngologists who treated the patient for sleep apnea. The decision to remove the palatine tonsils was based on careful observation of the respiratory and sleeping conditions of the patient during sleep, together with polysomnography (PSG). The tonsillectomy was done using a two-step procedure. We obtained a good treatment outcome in a patient with cleft lip and palate who had sleep apnea, based on collaboration between otolaryngologists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons.