Cleft lip: morbidity and mortality in early repair.

A fifteen-year survey of primary lip repairs done at The New York Hospital revealed that lip closure can be accomplished during the first week of life with no mortality and with major morbidity slightly higher than that in repairs done after one week of age. Modern anesthetic techniques have markedly reduced respiratory complications from lip closure. Adequate postoperative sedation coupled with careful patient monitoring should appreciably reduce the incidence of wound dehiscence.