New Insights into Cleft Palate Surgery

Cleft lip and palate are the most common craniofacial birth defects, treated by a multidisciplinary team of specialists. It is quite remarkable that there still remains considerable variation in the management strategies among various cleft care teams in the Netherlands and globally. The goal of treatment is to actively involve patients and their families in the decision-making process. However, the diverse approaches can be confusing for both parents and healthcare professionals.
This thesis discusses various aspects such as prenatal screening, surgical treatment, complications, side effects, and speech development in cleft care. The primary goal is to optimize cleft care for the benefit of patients and their families. Improving cleft management not only enhances patient outcomes but also provides financial advantages. Particularly in the current post-Covid era, it is essential to identify factors that can reduce additional medical costs. For instance, avoiding extra surgeries resulting from "two-stage" cleft palate closure (discussed in Chapter 3) or complications (Chapter 2) can alleviate the financial and surgical capacity burden. Moreover, minimizing side effects (explored in Chapters 4 and 5) can lead to higher patient and parent satisfaction, faster postoperative recovery and shorter hospital stays. Chapters 6 and 7 examine the necessary follow-up and different treatment options for patients with isolated cleft lip and SMCP. As mentioned earlier, the financial burden associated with multidisciplinary teams is substantial and appears to be increasing. Therefore, it is essential to carefully consider every hospital visit.