{{Short description|Surgical removal of the uvula}} {{Infobox interventions | Name = Uvulotomy | Image = | Caption = | ICD10 = | ICD9 = {{ICD9proc|27.7}} | MeshID = | OPS301 = | OtherCodes = | HCPCSlevel2 = }} [[File:LuettePalatineUvula.jpg | thumb | right | alt=palatine uvula | palatine uvula (3)]] A '''uvulotomy''', '''staphylotomy''', or '''uvulectomy''' is any cutting operation performed on the [[uvula]].<ref>Biology Online.</ref>
The procedure was performed in European [[Medieval medicine of Western Europe|medieval medicine]]. The Norwegian [[Eiríkr Hákonarson]] bled to death following such an operation.<ref>Finlay 2004, p. 133.</ref>
Uvulotomy is employed as [[folk medicine]] in some countries including [[Tigray Region|Tigray]].<ref>Ethnomed.</ref> It is sometimes part of a [[naming ceremony]], most commonly in [[Niger]], but also sometimes in [[Israel|Isreal]], and the [[Maghreb]] region. On the child's 7th day the uvula is removed in a religious ritual.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Prual |first=A. |last2=Gamatie |first2=Y. |last3=Djakounda |first3=M. |last4=Huguet |first4=D. |date=October 1994 |title=Traditional uvulectomy in Niger: a public health problem? |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7809661 |journal=Social Science & Medicine (1982) |volume=39 |issue=8 |pages=1077–1082 |doi=10.1016/0277-9536(94)90379-4 |issn=0277-9536 |pmid=7809661}}</ref> 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.<ref>Oommen 1988, p. 18.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yaremchuk |first=Kathleen |last2=Garcia-Rodriguez |first2=Laura |date=2017 |title=The History of Sleep Surgery |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28738337 |journal=Advances in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology |volume=80 |pages=17–21 |doi=10.1159/000470683 |issn=1662-2847 |pmid=28738337}}</ref>See [[uvulopalatopharyngoplasty]].
Its CPT 2009 code is "42140, Uvulectomy".
==References== {{reflist}} * 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}} * [http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Uvulotomy Uvulotomy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008052230/http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Uvulotomy |date=2007-10-08 }} Biology Online entry * [http://ethnomed.org/cultures/tigrean/tig_cp.html Tigrean Cultural Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003124343/http://ethnomed.org/cultures/tigrean/tig_cp.html |date=2008-10-03 }} EthnoMed article
{{Procedures on the mouth and pharynx}}
[[Category:Mouth and oropharynx surgery]]