Primary Cleft Lip Repair in Adults Under Local Anesthesia

Objective There are many adults with cleft lip deformities in developing countries. This is due to the lack of public awareness, social stigma, distance from the health center, and parents' financial condition. Lip repair under local anesthesia is safe, cost-effective and would be beneficial for the underprivileged population. Design A retrospective cohort study with follow-up of 1 to 8 years. Setting Academic Hospital. Patients/participants Cleft lip repair was performed in 252 patients of age more than 12 years from 2012 to 2019. Patients with cleft palate, cardiopulmonary disease, who did not consent for the procedure while awake were excluded. Interventions Cleft lip surgery done under local anesthesia. Main outcome measures Outcome measures were patients' self-satisfaction and comments of peer. Results Two hundred fifty-two primary cleft lip operations were done in 168 male and 84 female patients. The mean age was 23.62 years, and the mean weight was 49.66 kg. Unilateral was 227, Bilateral cleft lip 25. The postoperative period was uneventful. No case of wound dehiscence or wound infection was observed. Patients were discharged on the same day, except the ones who traveled a long distance. Conclusion Cleft lip repair in adults under local anesthesia is safe and cost-effective.