Intraoperative rapid expansion in cleft palate repair.

Intraoperative rapid expansion in cleft palate repair increases surface area by distension of the palate and recruitment of the surrounding palate tissue. A 5-cc Foley catheter with the distal tip trimmed is employed as the tissue expander. Intraoperative rapid palate expansion is proposed for closure with less tension of large gaps between cleft borders. This procedure has not demonstrated any deleterious clinical effects in cleft palate repair.