Deformation of the palate in preterm infants

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition Vol. 78; no. 1; pp. F29 - F32
• Main Authors: Procter, Annie M, Lether, Diane, Oliver, Richard G, Cartlidge, Patrick HT
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.01.1998; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Age; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Anthropometry; Biological and medical sciences; Birth weight; Deformation; Emergency and intensive care: neonates and children. Prematurity. Sudden death; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases - etiology; Infant, Premature, Diseases - pathology; Infants; Intensive care medicine; Intubation; Intubation, Intratracheal - adverse effects; Medical sciences; Morphology; Mouth Diseases - etiology; Mouth Diseases - pathology; Original; orotracheal intubation; palate; Palate - growth & development; Palate - pathology; Premature birth; Prospective Studies; Respiration, Artificial; Human; Measurement; Assisted ventilation; Deformation; Respiratory disease; Osseous palate; Gestational age; Newborn; Prematurity; Morphology; Risk factor; Respiratory distress; Intubation
• ISSN: 1359-2998; 1468-2052
• DOI: 10.1136/fn.78.1.F29

AIM To investigate the effect of gestation, postmenstrual age, and orotracheal intubation on palate morphology. METHODS A prospective study was made of 76 newborn infants of 25 to 41 weeks’ gestation. Palate dimensions were measured on plaster models produced from serial palatal impressions. Palate size relative to that of the mouth was assessed using a ratio of palate depth to palate width (Palatal Index). RESULTS Palate depth and width were related to postmenstrual age and gestation. Palatal Index ranged from 0.15 to 0.57, indicating a wide variation in palate shape, but gestation and postmenstrual age had no effect. Prolonged intubation had a small effect, equivalent to an increase in palatal depth of less than 2 mm at 32 weeks’ postmenstrual age. The effect was transient. CONCLUSION Prolonged orotracheal intubation (>10 days) leads to a small and temporary increase in palatal depth. However, this is unlikely to account for palatal grooving, which is probably caused by an overgrowth of the lateral palatine ridges.