Orthognathic surgery: doubts from patients with orofacial fissures regarding the immediate postoperative period

Abstract

Objectives: to identify the main doubts regarding the immediate postoperative care of patients with orofacial clefts undergoing orthognathic surgery. Methods: cross-sectional, quantitative study, developed in a public and tertiary hospital, between November 2017 and May 2018. Data collection occurred through interviews during the preoperative nursing consultation. An instrument was used to describe doubts, which later were grouped according to the subject. Results: 48 patients participated. The doubts referred to sun exposure (56%), food/mastication (48%), the relationship between intermaxillary block-breathing-vomiting (48%), oral hygiene (31%), physical activity restriction (27%), nasopharyngeal cannula, removal of surgical stitches, hospitalization time and speech/communication (23%), bleeding, cryotherapy, facial massage, aesthetic and functional results, healing, edema/ecchymosis, postoperative pain, and changes in facial sensitivity (21%). Conclusions: the doubts were related to food, the period of convalescence, care for the surgical wound, postoperative complications, and medications.