HSC Section 3 - Trauma, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Yaremchuk

Fig. 4. ( A ) Topical anesthetic with vasoconstrictive agent is injected into the soft palate. ( B ) Electrocautery is used to outline the area of elevation. Cautery and forceps are used to elevate the mucosal soft palatal flap 1 cm from the junction of the hard and soft palate to the tip of the uvula. ( C ) An inverted U incision is made dissecting the mucosa off of the uvular ridge. Cauterization of the midline mucosa on the nasopharyngeal surface of the uvula enhances the stiffening effect. ( D ) The specimen is removed, and the central palatal musculature remains intact. ( From Mair E, Day R. Cautery-assisted palatal stiffening operation. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;122(4):548; with permission.)

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