PALATAL GROOVE (PG) FORMATION IN THE OROTRACHEAL INTUBATED INFANT (I)

Abstract

Use of orotracheal intubation (OI) in I has been associated with PG formation, acquired cleft palate and defective dentition. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of PG formation in I requiring OI for 1 to 62 days.Over a 12 month period, maxillary casts were made of 163 infants requiring an orotracheal or orogastric tube. An impression of the maxillary arch was made using a thermal plastic compound and a specially developed acrylic tray. A master cast was produced from the impression using dental stone. A PG was defined as a narrow channel of variable depth located near the midline of the palate as defined by visual inspection of the maxillary cast.Sixty-three 1 weighing between 0.58 and 4.4 kg. had an orotracheal tube in place for 1 to 62 days prior to making of the maxillary cast. Forty-two of the I weighed less than 1.5 kg., and 68% had the maxillary impression taken during the first week of life. A PG was present in 47.6% of the I. An I intubated for less than 7 days had an incidence of PG formation of 39.5%, while an I intubated for 15 days or longer had an incidence of 87.5%. Maxillary impressions were made of 100 1 weighing between 0.72 and 4.5 kg. with an orogastric tube in place for 1 to 50 days. No PG were seen in these 100 1. Conclusion: 1) OI is associated with a high incidence of PG formation. 2) The longer the duration of OI, the greater the incidence of PG formation.