# Uvulotomy

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Surgical removal of the uvula

Medical intervention

Uvulotomy ICD-9-CM 27.7 [edit on Wikidata]

 palatine uvula (3)

A **uvulotomy**, **staphylotomy**, or **uvulectomy** is any cutting operation performed on the [uvula](/source/Uvula).[1]

The procedure was performed in European [medieval medicine](/source/Medieval_medicine_of_Western_Europe). The Norwegian [Eiríkr Hákonarson](/source/Eir%C3%ADkr_H%C3%A1konarson) bled to death following such an operation.[2]

Uvulotomy is employed as [folk medicine](/source/Folk_medicine) in some countries including [Tigray](/source/Tigray_Region).[3] It is sometimes part of a [naming ceremony](/source/Naming_ceremony), most commonly in [Niger](/source/Niger), but also sometimes in [Isreal](/source/Israel), and the [Maghreb](/source/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.[5][6]See [uvulopalatopharyngoplasty](/source/Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty).

Its CPT 2009 code is "42140, Uvulectomy".

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Biology Online.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Finlay 2004, p. 133.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Ethnomed.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Prual, A.; Gamatie, Y.; Djakounda, M.; Huguet, D. (October 1994). ["Traditional uvulectomy in Niger: a public health problem?"](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7809661). *Social Science & Medicine (1982)*. **39** (8): 1077–1082. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/0277-9536(94)90379-4](https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0277-9536%2894%2990379-4). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0277-9536](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0277-9536). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [7809661](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7809661).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Oommen 1988, p. 18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Yaremchuk, Kathleen; Garcia-Rodriguez, Laura (2017). ["The History of Sleep Surgery"](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28738337). *Advances in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology*. **80**: 17–21. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1159/000470683](https://doi.org/10.1159%2F000470683). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1662-2847](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1662-2847). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [28738337](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28738337).

- Finlay, Alison (editor and translator) (2004). *Fagrskinna, a Catalogue of the Kings of Norway*. Brill Academic Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [90-04-13172-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/90-04-13172-8)

- Mathew, Oommen P. et al. (1988). *Respiratory Function of the Upper Airway'*. Marcel Dekker. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8247-7802-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8247-7802-2)

- [Uvulotomy](http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Uvulotomy) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071008052230/http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Uvulotomy) 2007-10-08 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Biology Online entry

- [Tigrean Cultural Profile](http://ethnomed.org/cultures/tigrean/tig_cp.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081003124343/http://ethnomed.org/cultures/tigrean/tig_cp.html) 2008-10-03 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) EthnoMed article

v t e Procedures relating to the mouth and pharynx Mouth lip: Labial frenectomy Lip lift Lip augmentation Cheiloplasty tongue: Lingual frenectomy Genioglossus advancement Glossectomy teeth: see Template:Endodontology gingiva: see Template:Periodontology Oropharynx palate: Palatoplasty Pharyngeal flap surgery tonsil: Tonsillectomy Adenoidectomy uvula: Uvulotomy Uvulopalatoplasty Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

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