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Tracheostomy in ancient Egypt

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2014

Patric Blomstedt
Patric Blomstedt*
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Sweden
*
Address for correspondence: Prof Patric Blomstedt, Unit of Stereotactic Functional Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital of Umeå, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden Fax: +4690138045 E-mail: patric.blomstedt@neuro.umu.se
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Abstract

It has often been reported that the ancient Egyptians performed tracheostomies. An analysis of this claim demonstrates it to be founded on only two depictions from the Protodynastic period (thirty-first century bc). These depictions are difficult to reconcile with tracheostomy from an anatomical point of view and can more easily be explained as human sacrifices. Considering that Egyptian surgery included only minor procedures even at its zenith during later dynastic periods, it is difficult to imagine that they would have developed such an advanced procedure at such an early date.

Keywords

EgyptTracheostomyHistory
Type
Review Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 128 , Issue 8 , August 2014 , pp. 665 - 668
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

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