Definition

1. Noun:
   • A surgical incision into the chest wall to open the pleural cavity: A thoracotomy is a major surgical procedure where an incision is made through the chest wall to gain access to the thoracic organs, such as the lungs, heart, or esophagus, within the pleural cavity.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient underwent a thoracotomy to remove a tumor from the left lung.
  • A thoracotomy provides the surgeon with direct access to the thoracic cavity.
  • Post-operative pain management is crucial following a thoracotomy.

Advanced Usage

• "Exploratory thoracotomy": A surgical procedure performed to diagnose a condition when other tests are inconclusive.

  • The surgeon performed an exploratory thoracotomy to determine the cause of the internal bleeding.

• "Emergency thoracotomy": A life-saving procedure performed in trauma situations, often in an emergency department.

  • An emergency thoracotomy was performed on the stabbing victim to control cardiac bleeding.

Variants and Related Words

• Thoracoscopic (adj): Pertaining to thoracoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique using a small camera.

  • A thoracoscopic procedure often results in a faster recovery than a traditional thoracotomy.

• Thoracocentesis (n): A procedure to remove fluid or air from the pleural space using a needle, not a major incision.

  • Thoracocentesis is a less invasive diagnostic procedure compared to a thoracotomy.

Synonyms

• Chest surgery: A general term for surgical procedures involving the chest cavity.
• Thoracic incision: A descriptive term for the surgical cut made during the procedure.

Related Phrases

• To perform a thoracotomy: The act of carrying out this surgical procedure.

  • The surgical team was prepared to perform a thoracotomy.

• Thoracotomy scar: The resulting mark from the healed surgical incision.

  • The thoracotomy scar healed well over the following months.

Notes on Meaning

• A thoracotomy specifically refers to the surgical or itself. It is the means of access for various thoracic surgeries (e.g., lung resection, cardiac surgery). The term does not describe the specific operation performed once the cavity is open.

Noun

1. surgical incision into the chest walls opening up the pleural cavity