Blood Flow Distribution of Repaired Lip in Cleft Lip Patients

Abstract

To investigate the blood flow distribution in the repaired lip of cleft patients using a laser Doppler imager and to evaluate the difference in blood flow of the scar tissue between unilateral cleft lip patients with and without cleft palate. Twenty patients with either unilateral cleft lip only (CL group, n = 8) or cleft lip and palate (CLP group, n = 12) were used as subjects. The blood flow of the upper lip was two-dimensionally visualized by a color scale alongside the corresponding photo image of the tissue surface with laser Doppler imaging. The upper lip photo image was divided into five regions: scar, white lip on the cleft side, white lip on the noncleft side, red lip on the cleft side, and red lip on the noncleft side. The average flux score (AFS), which is proportional to blood flow, was analyzed in each region. The AFS for the scar region was significantly (P < .05) lower than in the other four regions. The AFS for the red lip on the cleft side was not significantly different from that for the noncleft side. The white lip revealed a significantly (P < .05) higher score on the cleft side than on the noncleft side. The AFS ratio (AFS in the scar region/AFS in the white lip region) was significantly (P < .01) lower in the CLP group than in the CL group. These results suggest that blood flow distribution in the repaired lip might be affected by the anatomic features of the cleft.