Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
thoracotomy
Pronunciation: thor-uh-KOT-uh-mee
A surgical incision through the chest wall to access thoracic organs, commonly used for lung cancer resection.
Full Definition
Thoracotomy involves making an incision between the ribs to enter the pleural space, providing direct access to the lungs, heart, and other thoracic structures. The most common approach is posterolateral thoracotomy through the 5th intercostal space. While increasingly replaced by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for many procedures, thoracotomy remains necessary for complex resections and when conversion from minimally invasive approaches is required.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from thoracentesis (pleural fluid drainage) and thoracostomy (chest tube placement).
In Context
- "A posterolateral thoracotomy was performed for the upper lobectomy." — Operative report
- "Conversion from VATS to thoracotomy was necessary due to dense adhesions." — Surgical note
Also known as
open thoracotomy
Contrasted with
thoracoscopy
VATS
Don't confuse with
thoracentesis
thoracostomy