Case Report of Post-Operative Uvular Necrosis Following Intubation

Uvular necrosis is an uncommon but startling complication of manipulation of the posterior oropharynx, either via instrumentation or direct suctioning. Here, we present a patient who developed uvular necrosis after an urgent intubation. Although the uvular necrosis self-resolved via the auto-amputation of the uvula, the change to the uvula was emotionally distressing to the patient. As symptoms typically develop one to two days after the initial injury to the uvula, this diagnosis may be seen in the emergency department, rather than in the inpatient hospital setting.

ENT, uvular disorders, complications of intubation, uvular disease.