Cardiac anomalies in children with non-syndromic cleft lip and palate at the Dental Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Cardiac anomalies are the most common congenital abnormalities associated with cleft lip and/or palate, data of which, for Sri Lankan population, are not available.

Objectives: To assess the frequency of cardiac anomalies in children with non-syndromic cleft lip and/ or palate at the Dental Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Method: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study at the Dental Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya Sri Lanka. Records of all children aged 14 years and below with non-syndromic oral clefts, who attended the clinic between January 2018 and January 2019 were studied.

Results: Total number fulfilling inclusion criteria was 150, of which 52% were males. Cleft lip with or without cleft palate was found in 96 (64%) and 50 (33.3%) had isolated cleft palate. There were four (2.7%) with sub-mucous cleft palate. Cardiac anomalies were found in 59% comprising 17.3% with patent foramen ovale (PFO), 16.7% with ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD), 2% with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), 1.3% with tetralogy of Fallot and 14.7% with other/multiple anomalies. Time gap from birth to initial echocardiography was 6 months or less in 65%. Gender or types of clefts were not significantly associated with presence of cardiac anomalies (p=0.154; p>0.05) and (p=0.377; p>0.05) respectively. Time gap from birth to initial echocardiography, and detecting cardiac anomalies was significantly associated (p= 0.027; p<0.05).

Conclusions: There was a 59% frequency of cardiac abnormalities in children with cleft lip and palate. Common cardiac anomalies detected were PFO (17.3%) and ostium secundum ASD (16.7%).

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2021; 51(1): 29-33