Feeding following cleft palate surgery: a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block and greater palatine nerve block.
Reg Anesth Pain MedOct 5, 2026 (epub)
Vrushali Ponde, Hanna Smeds, Parit Ladani et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of suprazygomatic maxillary nerve blocks (SZMNB) versus greater palatine nerve blocks (GPNB) in children aged 1-10 undergoing cleft palate surgery. The study found that SZMNB significantly improved early postoperative feeding (80% vs 60%, p<0.00001) and resulted in lower pain scores and reduced need for rescue paracetamol compared to GPNB.
Key findings
- Patients receiving SZMNB had a median oral feeding of 80% compared to 60% in the GPNB group (p<0.00001).
- SZMNB group exhibited lower pain scores during the first 12 hours postoperatively (p<0.05-0.001).
- Fewer patients in the SZMNB group required rescue paracetamol compared to the GPNB group (p<0.05).
Why it matters
Effective pain management and early postoperative feeding are crucial for recovery in pediatric patients undergoing cleft palate surgery. This study suggests that SZMNB may enhance recovery outcomes compared to GPNB.