Comparison of Wound Dehiscence and Parent’s Satisfaction between Spoon/Syringe Feeding and Breast/Bottle Feeding in Patients with Cleft Lip Repair
Darawan Augsornwan MPH*, Palakorn Surakunprapha MD**, Pantamanas Pattangtanang BNS*, Sumalee Pongpagatip MA***, Kamonwan Jenwitheesuk MD**, Bowornsilp Chowchuen MD**
Affiliation : * Surgical and Orthopeadic Department, Division of Nursing, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ** Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand *** Outpatient Department, Division of Nursing, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Background : Cleft lip and cleft palate are the most common craniofacial anomalies affecting approximately 2.49 of every
1,000 children born in North-east of Thailand. Srinagarind Hospital has 100-150 cases of cleft lip each year. Children with
cleft lip and palate need surgical procedures as soon as possible. After lip repair the normal recommendation is not using
bottle or breast feeding for 2 weeks to avoid tension at the sutured area during sucking and possible cause of wound
dehiscence. So this is quite complicated for the parents, and patients feel frustrated, cry, and move their head around, because
of hunger which cannot easily be satisfied. Previous research found that sucking does not cause wound dehiscence, but
mentioned no detail about severity of cleft.
Objective : Primary objective is to compare surgical wound dehiscence between breast feeding/bottle and spoon/syringe
feeding after lip repair.
Material and Method: This is an experimental study: non-inferiority trials study. The population is the patients with cleft lip
who underwent lip repair in Inpatient Department 3C, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. The
study period is during May 2010-February 2013. The total sample size in the present study is 192 participants, 96 cases
breast/bottle feeding, 96 cases spoon/syringe feeding. The wound dehiscence rate was analyzed by Z-test. Parents’ satisfaction
is a qualitative data and was analyzed through content analysis.
Results : No statistical significant difference between breast/bottle and spoon/syringe groups (p-value = 0.320, 95% confidence
interval -0.031-0.010). Parents were more satisfied to feed children by breast/bottle and patients were more relaxed with
breast/bottle feeding.
Conclusion : Breast/bottle feeding and syringe/spoon feeding have the same result on the surgical wound. Breast/bottle
feeding are not causes of wound dehiscence.
Keywords : Breast/bottle feeding, Wound dehiscence, Cleft-lip repair
