Akademik

thoracotomy
Incision through the chest wall into the pleural space. SYN: pleurotomy. [thoraco- + G. tome, incision]
- anterior t. anterior incision into the chest, usually submammary.
- axillary t. lateral t. placed below the axillary hairline; may be transverse or vertical.
- clamshell t. SYN: clamshell incision.
- minithoracotomy any t. involving less muscle division than the classic posterolateral t.. [colloquial]
- muscle-sparing t. any type of t. that does not involve significant division of the latissimus dorsi (muscle) and the serratus anterior (muscle).
- posterolateral t. t., involving division of the latissimus dorsi (muscle) and the serratus anterior (muscle).

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tho·ra·cot·o·my .thōr-ə-'kät-ə-mē, .thȯr- n, pl -mies surgical incision of the chest wall

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n.
surgical opening of the chest cavity to inspect or operate on the heart, lungs, or other structures within.

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tho·ra·cot·o·my (thor″ə-kotґə-me) [thoraco- + -tomy] surgical incision into the pleural space through the wall of the chest. Called also pleuracotomy and pleurotomy.

Medical dictionary. 2011.