thoracotomy

Indications

• used to gain access to the thoracic organs
  • heart (most common)
    • open heart surgery
      • cardiac valve replacement for
        • valvular heart disease
      • CABG for
        • coronary artery disease
        • unstable angina,
        • myocardial infarction
  • lungs
    • lobectomy or pneumonectomy for lung cancer
  • esophagus
    • perforated esophagus
  • thoracic aorta
    • thoracic aortic aneurysm repair
  • anterior spine
    • spinal neoplasms
• mediastinotomy

Procedure

• incision through the chest wall.

More general terms

• cardiothoracic surgery

More specific terms

• exploratory thoracotomy
• mediastinotomy

Additional terms

• chest tube; thoracostomy; pleural drainage