Pregnancy outcomes of patients diagnosed as having cleft lip or/and cleft palate in antenatal screening

INTRODUCTION: Our study aimed to evaluate the obstetric outcomes of extra ultrasonographic anomalies in patients with CL±P palate.
METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital between December 2017 and March 2021. The patients were analyzed under three groups as follows: isolated CL±P (group 1), CL±P with ultrasonographic anomalies with mild fetal and neonatal consequences (group 2), and CL±P with ultrasonographic anomalies with severe fetal and neonatal consequences (group 3).
RESULTS: Fourty cases were analyzed. The abnormal karyotype result (16.7%) were 46,x,t(t15;16)(q26;24), monosomy 18, trisomy 13, 46, XX, 21ps +. In the central cleft, ultrasonographic anomalies were seen in nine patients, which was statistically significantly higher than in isolated CL±P (p=0.004). Seven patients with extra ultrasonographic anomalies underwent termination, one patient with anencephaly died in utero. Preterm birth was the most common obstetric complication in all groups (n=9, 27.2%). In group 3, polyhydramnios was observed statistically significantly more frequently than in group 2 (p=0.033), and the first minute APGAR score was statistically significantly lower than in group 1 and 2 (p=0.003). The fifth minute APGAR score was statistically significantly lower and the need for the neonatal intensive care unit was statistically significantly higher than group 1 only (p=0.004 and p=0.007, respectively).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Polyhydramnios is not found in isolated cases, but only in cases with additional anomalies. Patients with CL±P with either major or minor additional ultrasonographic anomalies have worse fifth minute Apgar results and a greater need for the NICU.