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Cleft PalateNCT07651904

Perioperative Respiratory Adverse Events in Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Scoring

An observational study of Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip, run by Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Cleft lip and palate surgeries present unique anesthetic challenges due to shared airway access with the surgical field, frequent anatomical abnormalities, and a predominantly infant and toddler population. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 0 to 3 years
Conditions the study is for
Cleft Palate, Cleft Lip, Laryngospasm
What is being tested?
Standard General Anesthesia per Institutional Protocol
How many people
150 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
27 Jun 2026to 30 Dec 2027
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 0 to 3 years
  • All sexes
  • Child

Study population: Infants and toddlers aged 0-3 years scheduled for elective cleft lip and/or palate repair under general anesthesia . No randomization is performed; all management follows routine institutional anesthesia practice.

Who may be able to join

  • Age 0-3 years (infants and toddlers)
  • Scheduled for elective cleft lip and/or palate repair surgery
  • General anesthesia planned
  • Written parental/guardian informed consent obtained

Who cannot join

  • Pre-existing respiratory failure or active tracheostomy
  • Emergency surgical procedures
  • Inability to obtain parental/guardian consent

Trial locations and contacts

No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

About this study

Official title: Prospective Assessment of Perioperative Respiratory Adverse Events in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery: Predictive Risk Factors and the Role of Clinical Airway Scores

Cleft lip and palate surgeries present unique anesthetic challenges due to shared airway access with the surgical field, frequent anatomical abnormalities, and a predominantly infant and toddler population. These factors substantially increase the risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs), including laryngospasm, bronchospasm, desaturation, post-extubation stridor, and unanticipated re-intubation.

This prospective single-center observational cohort study aims to determine the true incidence of PRAEs in pediatric patients undergoing elective cleft lip and/or palate repair under general anesthesia, and to identify independent predictive risk factors using standardized airway assessment tools including the Han Mask Ventilation Score and the Intubation Difficulty Score (IDS). No interventions beyond routine clinical practice will be applied. All airway management decisions will remain at the discretion of the attending anesthesiologist.

Read the detailed description

Cleft lip and palate are among the most common congenital craniofacial anomalies.

The surgical population predominantly consists of infants and young children who may present with associated syndromes, micrognathia, retrognathia, or obstructive sleep apnea - all of which contribute to difficult mask ventilation and difficult intubation. Sharing the airway with the surgical team and the use of the Dingman retractor further increase the risk of airway compromise during emergence and extubation. Published data on PRAE incidence in this population are largely retrospective and heterogeneous, and no adequately powered prospective study has systematically evaluated predictive risk factors using validated scoring systems.

Study Design:

Prospective, single-center, observational cohort study conducted at Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. No interventions beyond established routine anesthesia protocols will be performed. Parental written informed consent will be obtained prior to enrollment.

Anesthetic Protocol:

All patients will undergo standard intraoperative monitoring (ECG, non-invasive blood pressure, pulse oximetry, end-tidal CO₂). Anesthesia will be induced with sevoflurane inhalation followed by intravenous induction after vascular access. Maintenance will be achieved with sevoflurane and remifentanil infusion. Analgesia and perioperative steroid administration will follow the department's routine protocol.

Data Collection:

Preoperative variables: age, weight, cleft type (unilateral/bilateral/isolated lip/isolated palate/combined), cleft width and depth, alveolar gap, micrognathia, retrognathia, cervical extension limitation, OSAS history, Pierre Robin sequence, and prior ICU admission.

Intraoperative variables: induction type and agents, neuromuscular blockade use, operator experience level, mask ventilation difficulty (Han Score), number of intubation attempts, laryngoscopy device used, Cormack-Lehane grade, VIDIAC score, IDS score, adjunct airway tools employed, minimum SpO₂ and bradycardia during intubation, Dingman retractor duration, and steroid use.

Primary outcome assessment: extubation-related minimum SpO₂, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, post-extubation stridor, coughing episodes, and need for unplanned re-intubation or ICU admission.

Vital signs (heart rate, SpO₂, blood pressure) will be recorded at intubation, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 minutes intraoperatively, and postoperatively.

Statistical Analysis:

Descriptive statistics will be reported as mean ± SD or median (IQR) for continuous variables and as n (%) for categorical variables. Univariate comparisons between PRAE and non-PRAE groups will employ independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square, or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. Independent predictors of PRAE will be identified via binary logistic regression (backward stepwise method), reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance threshold: p<0.05.

Sample Size:

Based on a reported PRAE incidence of ~25% in comparable populations, a minimum of 120 patients is required (α=0.05, power=80%, G*Power 3.1). Accounting for anticipated dropout and exclusions, the target enrollment is 140-150 patients.

Being tested
Standard General Anesthesia per Institutional Protocol
Keywords
cleft lip, cleft palate, pediatric anesthesia, perioperative respiratory adverse events, Han mask ventilation score, micrognathia, intubation difficulty score
Medical subject headings
Cleft Palate, Cleft Lip, Laryngismus, Bronchial Spasm, Airway Obstruction, Postoperative Complications, Micrognathism

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Standard General Anesthesia per Institutional ProtocolOther

    No interventions beyond routine clinical anesthesia practice. All airway management decisions, including induction technique, laryngoscopy device selection, and extubation strategy, are made at the discretion of the attending anesthesiologist. Observational data collection only.

Study groups in NCT07651904
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Cleft Lip and/or Palate Surgery CohortPediatric patients aged 0-3 years undergoing elective cleft lip and/or palate repair under general anesthesia. All subjects are managed per routine anesthesia protocol. Perioperative airway events and predictive clinical variables are prospectively recorded from induction through PACU discharge.
Receives: Other: Standard General Anesthesia per Institutional Protocol

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Incidence of Perioperative Respiratory Adverse Events (PRAEs)

    Composite outcome defined as the occurrence of at least one of the following: laryngospasm, bronchospasm, post-extubation stridor, oxygen desaturation lasting >10 seconds (SpO₂ <90%), or unplanned re-intubation, occurring at any point from induction through PACU discharge

    Measured: first 24 hours from anesthesia induction. assessed up to 24 hours postoperatively.From anesthesia induction to discharge from the hospital.

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Independent Predictors of PRAE - Odds Ratios

    Identification of independent risk factors for PRAE via binary logistic regression, including Han Mask Ventilation Score, IDS, age, cleft type, micrognathia, retrognathia, OSAS, Pierre Robin sequence, and passive smoke exposure. Results reported as OR (95% CI).

    Measured: first 24 hours from anesthesia induction. assessed up to 24 hours postoperatively.From anesthesia induction to discharge from the hospital.

  2. Intubation Difficulty Score (IDS)

    Composite intubation difficulty score (Adnet 1997) calculated as N1-N7 sum; IDS ≥5 defined as difficult intubation.

    Measured: Intraoperative

  3. Han Mask Ventilation Score

    Four-point scale assessing difficulty of mask ventilation; score ≥2 considered indicative of elevated PRAE risk.

    Measured: Intraoperative, at time of mask ventilation

  4. Minimum SpO₂ During Intubation

    Intraoperative

    Measured: Lowest pulse oximetry value recorded during laryngoscopy and intubation attempts.

  5. Minimum SpO₂ During Extubation

    At extubation

    Measured: Lowest pulse oximetry value recorded during and immediately after extubation.

  6. Postoperative ICU Admission Rate

    Proportion of patients requiring unplanned postoperative intensive care unit admission.

    Measured: Within 24 hours of surgery

  7. Postoperative Hospital Length of Stay

    Total duration of hospital stay in days.

    Measured: From surgery to hospital discharge, assessed up to 30 days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Jun 2026
  2. Study start27 Jun 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion30 May 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Dec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrolment
150 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07651904
Sponsor's protocol ID
mar anest
Status last verified
Jun 2026
First submitted
7 Jun 2026
Last updated
16 Jun 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • Feyrer J, Irouschek A, Golditz T, Schmidt J, Lutz R, Kesting M, Moritz A. Airway Management in Children Undergoing Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate Surgery: An 8-Year Retrospective Analysis of 274 Cases. Paediatr Anaesth. 2025 Nov;35(11):925-933. doi: 10.1111/pan.70038. Epub 2025 Aug 16.

    PubMed 40817740
  • Han R, Tremper KK, Kheterpal S, O'Reilly M. Grading scale for mask ventilation. Anesthesiology. 2004 Jul;101(1):267. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200407000-00059. No abstract available.

    PubMed 15220820
  • Adnet F, Borron SW, Racine SX, Clemessy JL, Fournier JL, Plaisance P, Lapandry C. The intubation difficulty scale (IDS): proposal and evaluation of a new score characterizing the complexity of endotracheal intubation. Anesthesiology. 1997 Dec;87(6):1290-7. doi: 10.1097/00000542-199712000-00005.

    PubMed 9416711
  • Somerville N, Fenlon S. Anaesthesia For Cleft Lip And Palate Surgery. Continuing Education İn Anaesthesia, Critical Care And Pain. 2005/06/01;5(3).

  • Tümer M, Ankay Yılbaş A, Soysal Kaya M, Karakoyak B, Kaya K, Canbay Ö, Et Al. Anesthetic Approach And Perioperative Complications İn Cleft Lip / Palate Surgery: A Single Center Retrospective Study. ERCIYES MEDICAL JOURNAL. 2022;44

  • Gupta N, Nagar K, Dixit P, Tiwari T, Srivastava VK, Singh PR. Airway Consideration İn Cleft Patients-Challenges And Approaches. Journal Of Cleft Lip Palate And Craniofacial Anomalies. Jan-Jun 2022;9(1).

  • Denning S, Ng E, Wong Riff KWY. Anaesthesia for cleft lip and palate surgery. BJA Educ. 2021 Oct;21(10):384-389. doi: 10.1016/j.bjae.2021.06.002. Epub 2021 Aug 25. No abstract available.

    PubMed 34567793

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip, run by Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Dilara Göçmen (+90 216 625 45 45, dilara.gocmen@marmara.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Incidence of Perioperative Respiratory Adverse Events (PRAEs) (time frame: first 24 hours from anesthesia induction. assessed up to 24 hours postoperatively.From anesthesia induction to discharge from the hospital.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07651904, which also lists 7 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Jun 2026.

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