Anaesthesia in cleft lip and cleft palate surgery of children.

Three hundred and fifty children below 5 years of age undergoing surgery for repair of cleft lip and palate received endotracheal halothane anaesthesia. For induction of anaesthesia a mixture of nitrous oxide (N2O), oxygen (O2) and halothane was given by mask. Orotracheal intubation was carried out without administration of relaxants and spontaneous respiration was maintained. Adrenaline infiltration was used to minimise the blood loss. No life-threatening complications were seen during surgery or in the post-operative period. The mortality in this group was zero. The study showed that anaesthesia for cleft lip (CL) and cleft palate (CP) surgery could be given relatively safely in developing countries where facilities and resources available are minimal.