What We Do: Povidone-Iodine Solution to Delineate the Cutaneous Roll

Abstract

Background: Establishing continuity of the cutaneous roll is critical to cleft lip repair. Unfortunately, this landmark can be difficult to appreciate depending on the patient’s skin tone, surgical lighting, or preexisting scar. Solution: When applied to the lip, dilute povidone-iodine solution beads off the cutaneous roll and dry vermilion, clearly defining these structures. What We Do: We use dilute povidone-iodine solution not only to prep the lip but to delineate landmarks critical to cleft lip repair.