Medical Image of the Week: Uvula Hematoma Secondary to Endotracheal Intubation
Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 8:00AM 
Figure 1: Uvula with elongation and hematoma of the tip, in the anterior and superior position.
A 53 year old male with no significant past medical history admitted for acute cholecystitis, underwent an uneventful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Per anesthesia report, intubation was difficult. A few hours after extubation, he complained of dyspnea and a choking sensation. Examination showed a hematoma of the uvula with elongation and abnormal position of the uvula anterior to the soft palate. The patient was given a dose of intravenous steroids and anti-histamine with resolution of his symptoms over time.
Bhupinder Natt MD, Carmen Luraschi Monjagatta MD, Rene Franco MD, John Sandoval-Gonzalez MD.
Departments of Internal Medicine and Family Medicine
University of Arizona Health Network, South Campus
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Reference as: Natt B, Luraschi-Monjagatta C, Franco R, Sandoval-Gonzalez J. Medical image of the week: uvula hematoma secondary to endotracheal intubation. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2013:7(3):204. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc127-13 PDF
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