Evaluation of the Variety and Incidence of Cardiac Anomalies Associated with Cleft Lip and Palate: A Retrospective Evaluation of 1134 Patients Mert Çalış, Murat Kara, Figen Özgür Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Abstract Objective: To perform a retrospective analysis of patients with cleft lip and palate admitted to the Hacettepe University Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery in the years 2013–2016, and to determine the overall prevalence and variety of associated congenital cardiac anomalies. Materials and Methods: Demographic variables of 1134 cleft patients admitted between July 1, 2013 and April 15, 2016 were retrospec- tively evaluated. Gender, cleft type, associated syndromes, type of associated congenital cardiac anomaly were recorded. Results: Of the 1134 patients, 178 (15.6%) had cardiac anomalies, of which 102 patients (57.3%) were male and 76 (42.7%) were female. Congenital cardiac anomalies were mostly associated with concomitant presentation of cleft lip and palate at a rate of 56.1% (100/178 patients). Among the patients with various cleft types, 28.9% with isolated cleft palate had the highest rate of syndromic association, and 74 (41.6%) had multiple cardiac anomalies. The most common cardiac anomaly was atrial septal defect, seen in 47.8% of the patients. Conclusion: As cleft lip and palate are one of the most common congenital anomalies worldwide, associated cardiac anomalies are healthcare problems that require attention. Keywords: Cleft lip and palate, congenital cardiac anomalies, incidence Correspondence Author: Mert Çalış, MD E-mail: mertcalis@gmail.com DOI: 10.5152/TurkJPlastSurg.2017.2128 Original Article Received: 12.08.2016 Accepted: 25.09.2016 INTRODUCTION One of the most frequently encountered anomalies in the head and neck region, namely, cleft lip and palate, are known to have a mean incidence rate of 1.3–1.7/1000. 1-3 While varying by geographical regions, incidence is seen to increase around the eastern parts of the world. This rate can be as high as 1/400 among the far eastern population. 4 Cleft lip and palate are often non-syndromic congenital deformities, although can be frequently accompanied by other congenital anom- alies at rates reported from 1.5% to as high as 63.4%. 5 Cardiac anomalies are the major morbidities accompanying cleft lip and palate, and these anomalies afect perioperative morbidity. 6,7 Cardiac anomalies can be of various types and present diferent degrees of severity, and diferent incidence rates are reported in diferent societies. 2,8,9 Since cardiac anomalies can often accompany a cleft lip and palate, the presence and severity of cardiac anomalies can indi- cate the timing for the treatment of this congenital anomaly, which requires surgical reconstruction in the frst several months of life of the patient, and can also be indicative of the occurrence of postoperative complications. Given the above, this study was designed to per- form a retrospective analysis of cleft lip and palate patients admitted to the Hacettepe University Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery-a major reference center for cleft lip and palate-in the years 2013–2016, and to determine the overall prevalence and type of associated congenital cardiac anomalies. 28 Content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. www.turkjplastsurg.org