[Results of a questionnaire on the treatment of cleft lip and palate in Spain]

Abstract

Objective: To present the results of a questionnaire done to evaluate the status of the multidisciplinary team treatment of cleft lip and palate in Spain, directed to know the experience and organization of each center.

Method: A questionnaire was sent to 34 hospitals asking about the following: existence of multidisciplinary team, number of primary surgical cleft operation in 1997, specialty of the primary surgeon/s, the presence in the hospital staff of: ENT, speech therapist, orthodontist, maxillofacial surgeon; if evaluation of the velopharyngeal function is done, if orthodontist meets with other members of the team, where the speech therapy is performed, how the financial burden of these treatments are covered and if there is a parent group.

Results: Nineteen centers (55.8%) have responded. Only seven centers admit to have a multidisciplinary team, primary surgery is done by pediatric, plastic and maxillofacial surgeons, 36% of the surgeons operate less then 10 cases/year, the absence of a speech therapist and orthodontist in staff was 42% and 84% respectively, instrumental diagnosis of VPI is not performed in 60% of teams, scanty and not uniform cost coverage of these treatments, only 12% of centers admit to have a parent group.

Conclusions: Deficiencies of organization and staff are present in many centers, there is not a team culture. Centralization of primary surgery is needed. The need of a Spanish Cleft Palate Association is pointed. Eurocleft treatment guidelines are presented.