Uvulotomy

Uvulotomy
Uvulotomy
ICD-9-CM	27.7

A uvulotomy, staphylotomy, or uvulectomy is any cutting operation performed on the uvula.¹

The procedure was performed in European medieval medicine. The Norwegian Eiríkr Hákonarson bled to death following such an operation.²

Uvulotomy is employed as folk medicine in some countries including Tigray.³ It is sometimes part of a naming ceremony, most commonly in Niger, but also sometimes in Isreal, and the Maghreb region. On the child's 7th day the uvula is removed in a religious ritual.⁴ This practice is called "traditional uvulectomy" to distinguish it from medical treatment.

In the 20th century uvulotomy came to be used as a treatment for snoring.⁵⁶See uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

Its CPT 2009 code is "42140, Uvulectomy".

References

Biology Online.
Finlay 2004, p. 133.
Ethnomed.
Prual, A.; Gamatie, Y.; Djakounda, M.; Huguet, D. (October 1994). "Traditional uvulectomy in Niger: a public health problem?". Social Science & Medicine (1982). 39 (8): 1077–1082. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(94)90379-4. ISSN 0277-9536. PMID 7809661.
Oommen 1988, p. 18.
Yaremchuk, Kathleen; Garcia-Rodriguez, Laura (2017). "The History of Sleep Surgery". Advances in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 80: 17–21. doi:10.1159/000470683. ISSN 1662-2847. PMID 28738337.

Finlay, Alison (editor and translator) (2004). Fagrskinna, a Catalogue of the Kings of Norway. Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 90-04-13172-8
Mathew, Oommen P. et al. (1988). Respiratory Function of the Upper Airway'. Marcel Dekker. ISBN 0-8247-7802-2
Uvulotomy Archived 2007-10-08 at the Wayback Machine Biology Online entry
Tigrean Cultural Profile Archived 2008-10-03 at the Wayback Machine EthnoMed article

[1] Biology Online.

[2] Finlay 2004, p. 133.

[3] Ethnomed.

[4] Prual, A.; Gamatie, Y.; Djakounda, M.; Huguet, D. (October 1994). "Traditional uvulectomy in Niger: a public health problem?". Social Science & Medicine (1982). 39 (8): 1077–1082. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(94)90379-4. ISSN 0277-9536. PMID 7809661.

[5] Oommen 1988, p. 18.

[6] Yaremchuk, Kathleen; Garcia-Rodriguez, Laura (2017). "The History of Sleep Surgery". Advances in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 80: 17–21. doi:10.1159/000470683. ISSN 1662-2847. PMID 28738337.

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