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Evaluating the Respiratory Muscle Function in Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate: Maximal Inspiratory and Expiratory
Nivetha Shree Venkatasamy1, Irfan Ismail Ayub2, Vignesh Kailasam1
1Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Sri Ramachandra Dental college and hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India.
None:
ObjectiveTo evaluate the respiratory muscle strength in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and correlate with airway dimensions.DesignCross-sectional.SettingThe study was conducted at a Sri Ramachandra Dental College and hospital in India.ParticipantsAdult patients were divided into three groups with eleven participants in each group. Group 1 comprised patients with CLP who had undergone alveolar bone grafting (ABG) but without maxillary expansion. Group 2 comprised patients with CLP, who had undergone ABG and maxillary expansion. Group 3 patients formed the control group which comprised non-CLP, Class I skeletal base patients.Main OutcomeSpirometric tests were performed, and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured.ResultsMean MIP values for group 1, group 2, and group 3 were 2.5 ± 1.2 kPa, 5.6 ± 1.9 kPa, and 6.0 ± 1.9 kPa while MEP values were 4.1 ± 1.4 kPa, 6.2 ± 1.4 kPa, and 6.6 ± 1.9 kPa, respectively. Patients who had undergone ABG, but not maxillary expansion (Group 1) had statistically significant lesser MIP and MEP values (P <.001*). The mean peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) values were also decreased in group 1 but were not statistically significant (P >.05). Pharyngeal volume also decreased in patients with CLP. (P <.05). A positive, statistically significant correlation was found between nasopharyngeal volume (NPV) and MIP (R = 0.53) and NPV and MEP (R = 0.44) (P <.05*).ConclusionThis research provides conclusive evidence that patients with CLP have respiratory muscle weakness. This may result in functional deficits. The interdisciplinary team should plan the treatment accordingly.
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