Establishment of an opening into the chest cavity, as for the drainage of an empyema. [thoraco- + G. stoma, mouth]
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tho·ra·cos·to·my .thōr-ə-'käs-tə-mē, .thȯr- n, pl -mies surgical opening of the chest (as for drainage)
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tho·ra·cos·to·my (thor″ə-kosґtə-me) [thoraco- + -stomy] 1. surgical creation of an opening in the wall of the chest for the purpose of drainage. 2. the opening so created.Medical dictionary. 2011.