Cleft Lip Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Deformities Care: An Anesthesiologist’s Perspective at the Tawanchai Center
Cattleya Thongrong MD*, Wimonrat Sriraj MD*, Nonthida Rojanapithayakorn MD*, Piyaporn Bunsangjaroen MD*, Pornthep Kasemsiri MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ** Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Background : The increasing number of pediatric patients with cleft lip-palate and craniofacial anomalies is a nuisance
problem in the Northeast of Thailand. These patients have complicated problems including physical health, psychosocial, and
poor quality of life; therefore, a multidisciplinary care team was established, named Tawanchai center. This study encouraged
the improvement of the quality of holistic healthcare service system to improve the quality of life the patients and their families.
Anesthesiologists are important personnel in the facilitation of the surgical team, and to help improve other activities
including academic, service and research.
Objective : To relate the perspective of anesthesiologist according to the role they play in the multidisciplinary team.
Material and Method: The database of Anesthesiology department and annual report from the period between June 2005 to
July 2015 were collected and reviewed.
Conclusion : Highly-skilled and experienced anesthesiologist in the multidisciplinary patient care team play a vital role
through the provision of advanced and specific knowledge to anesthesia management. The role of anesthesiologists should be
researched to enhance the quality of anesthesia management, thereby contributing to national and international patient care
team development.
Keywords : Cleft lip, Cleft palate, Craniofacial deformity, Anesthesia, Tawanchai center
