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Method of Studying Palatal Fusion using Static Organ Culture
Published on: September 19, 2015
A model humanitarian cleft mission: 312 cleft surgeries in 7 days
Ghulam Qadir Fayyaz1, Nauman Ahmad Gill1, Irfan Ishaq1
1Department of Plastic Surgery, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan; Department of Plastic Surgery, Dow Medical College and Civil Hospital, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Plastic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Professor Emaritus, Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Stanford, Stanford, California.
Cleft missions provide vital surgical care in resource-limited areas, improving access for patients with cleft lip and palate. Utilizing local expertise makes these missions cost-effective and sustainable for global health.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Surgical Care
- Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment
Background:
- Limited access to specialized cleft care units in many countries.
- Cleft missions are crucial for providing surgical interventions in resource-limited regions.
- A model for cleft missions leveraging local expertise and resources is presented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a model for cleft missions adaptable to countries with available expertise but limited resources.
- To demonstrate a cost-effective approach to treating cleft lip and palate patients through local human resource utilization.
- To highlight the potential impact of organized cleft missions on a significant global population.
Main Methods:
- A case series of a 7-day cleft mission conducted in Khairpur, Pakistan, in March 2014.
- Detailed account of mission organization, patient recruitment, and surgical procedure execution.
- Focus on safe and efficient surgical practices for cleft lip and palate repair.
Main Results:
- 312 patients underwent surgery within 7 days.
- Operations included 145 cleft lip and 167 cleft palate repairs.
- A low fistula rate of approximately 9.6% (16 out of 167) was observed in cleft palate patients.
Conclusions:
- Locoregional cleft teams are effective in managing cleft patients in underserved areas.
- Proper organization of national-level cleft missions maximizes the utilization of surgical expertise.
- Sustainable and cost-effective cleft care models can be implemented globally.
