Cleft Lip and Palate Repairs in X, “Sourire de l’Espoir” Humanitarian Missions’ Experience: A Retrospective Study of 201 Consecutive Cases

Objective: To describe “Sourire de l’Espoir” humanitarian missions in _X_ on cleft lip and palate (CLP) repair and how it shaped the future of CLP repair in _X_. Design: Retrospective. Patients: Clinical files of patients operated for CLP during humanitarian missions from October 2008 to May 2013 in _Y_, the capital of _X_, were reviewed in a nine-month postoperative assessment from June to December 2020. Demographics, clinical, and therapeutic patterns were assessed. We also assessed the Zwisch method used for the training of local surgeons during the missions. Statistical analysis was performed with Epi Info (CDC version 7.1.3.3-2013). Results: CLP repair was performed in 201 patients during 10 missions. Patients’ mean age was 7.05 (SD 9.22) years (range: 3 months-50 years); the sex ratio was 1.05. Distribution of cases was as follows: Cleft lip (CL) 109/201 (54.23%); cleft palate (CP) 53/201 (26.23%), and CLP 39/201 (19.40%). The Tennison-Borde-Bedouelle-Malek technique was used for the repair of CL in 119/148 patients (80.41%); the Onizuka technique (modified Millard technique) for the revision surgery of CL in 19 patients previously operated in other settings. The Kriens and Sommerlad palatoplasty technique was performed for primary and revision surgeries for all CP in 89/92 (96.73%) patients. The postoperative course was uneventful in 199/201 (99.00%) patients. Two patients died of laryngospasm in the immediate perioperative course. One patient presented with an infection on the lip that healed with local wound care, and two patients with palatal fistula were treated by revision surgery. Three surgeons of the local team were trained as per the Zwisch method: in the first two missions, show and tell (60/201 cases), the third and fourth missions, smart help step (48/201 cases); from the seventh mission onwards, passive assistance (51/201 cases) by the local surgeons with no help. Conclusion: The “Sourire de l’Espoir” humanitarian missions provided primary and revision surgery to children and adults with CLP while 3 local surgeons were trained to deal with primary cases.