A uvulotomy or staphylotomy is any cutting operation performed on the

uvula The palatine uvula, usually referred to as simply the uvula, is a conic projection from the back edge of the middle of the soft palate, composed of connective tissue containing a number of racemose glands, and some muscular fibers. It also conta ...

. The procedure was performed in European medieval medicine. The Norwegian

Eiríkr Hákonarson Erik Hakonsson, also known as Eric of Hlathir or Eric of Norway, (, 960s – 1020s) was Earl of Lade, Governor of Norway and Earl of Northumbria. He was the son of Earl Hákon Sigurðarson and brother of the legendary Aud Haakonsdottir of Lade. He ...

bled to death following such an operation. Uvulotomy is employed in

folk medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within the folk beliefs of various societies, including indigenous peoples, before the ...

in Tigray. In the 19th century uvulotomy came to be used as a treatment for snoring.Oommen 1988, p. 18. See

uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (also known by the abbreviations UPPP and UP3) is a surgical procedure or sleep surgery used to remove tissue and/or remodel tissue in the throat. This could be because of sleep issues. Tissues which may typically be remov ...

. Its CPT 2009 code is "42140, Uvulectomy".

References

* Finlay, Alison (editor and translator) (2004). ''Fagrskinna, a Catalogue of the Kings of Norway''. Brill Academic Publishers. * Mathew, Oommen P. et al. (1988). ''Respiratory Function of the Upper Airway. Marcel Dekker.
Uvulotomy
Biology Online entry

EthnoMed article {{Procedures on the mouth and pharynx Mouth and oropharynx surgery