OBJECTIVETo evaluate the perioperative risk factors of the cleft palate repair in Pierre Robin sequence patients at early age and to investigate how to control the risk factors.

METHODSSix consecutive patients with Pierre Robin sequence underwent primary repair of cleft palate in Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School of Stomatology from June 2001 to February 2004. The patients underwent von Longenbeck operation by the same perioperative observation of serum oxygen saturation were obtained for these patients. patients included 4 males and 2 females with age of 9 months to 5 surgeon. Pre- and post-operative polysomnographic studies and years.

RESULTSAll the patients suffered various degree of hypoxaemia during the period of intubation. There was only one patient who had hypoxaemia within the first 2 hours during postanaesthetic recovery period. No obvious difference was found in apnea and hypopnea index (AHI) among the patients before and after operation.

CONCLUSIONSSevere hypoxaemia may happen in perioperative period when the patients with PRS underwent cleft palate repair. Most patients with PRS could undergo cleft palate repair safely performed by experienced surgeon at early age under comprehensive consideration and careful control of the risk factors.