Cleft Palate Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cleft Palate, including details on causes, surgery, treatment.

Prophylactic antibiotics and surgery for primary clefts.

Smyth AG, Knepil GJ

Clarendon Wing, Leeds General Infirmary, Belmont Grove, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 9NS, United Kingdom. alistair.smyth@leedsth.nhs.uk

There are currently no evidence-based guidelines about the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in repair of cleft lip and palate. After the designation of regional cleft centres in the UK, a postal questionnaire was sent to cleft surgeons in 2004 to enquire about the use of routine antibiotic prophylaxis for primary repair of cleft lip and palate. The results showed a lack of consensus and wide disparity among centres. The findings show that there is a need for a random control clinical trial to establish national recommendations for the rational use of prophylactic antibiotics in primary cleft surgery.

Published 18 February 2008 in Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 46(2): 107-9.
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