thoracotomy
Pronunciation: thor-ah-COT-oh-mee
A surgical incision into the chest wall to access thoracic organs, including the heart and great vessels.
Full Definition
Thoracotomy is a surgical approach involving incision through the chest wall to access intrathoracic structures. In cardiac surgery, lateral thoracotomy may be used for minimally invasive procedures, redo operations, or when sternotomy is contraindicated. Common approaches include left anterior thoracotomy for mitral valve surgery and right thoracotomy for certain aortic procedures. The anterolateral thoracotomy provides excellent exposure while potentially reducing complications associated with median sternotomy. Post-thoracotomy pain management is typically more challenging than sternotomy, requiring multimodal analgesic approaches including intercostal blocks or epidural anesthesia.
Usage
Usage note: Specify location (right/left, anterolateral/posterolateral) when relevant; distinguish from sternotomy.
In Context
- "A right anterolateral thoracotomy was performed for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement." — Operative approach description
- "The patient experienced typical post-thoracotomy pain managed with intercostal nerve blocks." — Post-operative pain management