Typically, a thoracotomy is performed on the right or left side of the chest. An incision on the front of the chest through the breast bone can also be used, but is rare. A thoracotomy is performed for
diagnosis or treatment of a disease
and allows doctors to visualize, biopsy or remove tissue as needed.
When is a thoracotomy performed?
Thoracotomy is indicated
when total chest tube output exceeds 1500 mL within 24 hours
, regardless of injury mechanism. THE INDICATIONS for thoracotomy after traumatic injury typically include shock, arrest at presentation, diagnosis of specific injuries (such as blunt aortic injury), or ongoing thoracic hemorrhage.
What is a thoracotomy with exploration?
Thoracotomy is the
procedure of choice for surgical exploration of the chest when massive hemothorax
What does thoracotomy mean?
Listen to pronunciation. (THOR-uh-KAH-toh-mee)
An operation to open the chest
.
What causes thoracotomy?
Thoracotomies are often used to treat or diagnose a problem with one of these organs or structures. The most common reason to have a thoracotomy is to
treat lung cancer
, as the cancerous part of the lung can be removed through the incision. It can also be used to treat some heart and chest conditions.
Is thoracotomy a major surgery?
A thoracotomy is a
major surgical procedure
that allows surgeons to access the chest cavity during surgery.
How long do you stay in the hospital after a thoracotomy?
Most people stay in the hospital for
5 to 7 days
after open thoracotomy. Hospital stay for a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is most often shorter. You may spend time in the intensive care unit (ICU) after either surgery.
What are signs of life for thoracotomy?
- Pupillary response.
- Spontaneous ventilation.
- Presence of carotid pulse.
- Measurable or palpable blood pressure.
- Extremity movement.
- Cardiac electrical activity.
What are the types of thoracotomy?
Thoracotomies typically can be divided into two categories;
anterolateral thoracotomies and posterolateral thoracotomies
. These can be further subdivided into supra-mammary and infra-mammary and, of course, further divided into the right or left chest. Each type of incision has its utility given certain circumstances.
Who can do a thoracotomy?
Who performs a thoracotomy? The following specialists perform a thoracotomy:
Thoracic surgeons
specialize in the surgical treatment of diseases of the chest, including the blood vessels, heart, lungs and esophagus. Thoracic surgeons may also be known as cardiothoracic surgeons.
How painful is a thoracotomy?
Thoracotomy is considered
the most painful of surgical procedures
and providing effective analgesia is the onus for all anaesthetists. Ineffective pain relief impedes deep breathing, coughing, and remobilization culminating in atelectasis and pneumonia.
How much does a thoracotomy cost?
Average costs ranged from
$22,050 for low volume surgeons to $18,133 for high volume surgeons
. For open lobectomies, cost differences by surgeon experience were not significant and both levels were estimated at $21,000. These data suggest that economic impact is magnified as the surgeon’s experience increases.
What is the difference between thoracotomy and Thoracostomy?
Thoracotomy is
surgery
that makes an incision to access the chest. It’s often done to remove part or all of a lung in people with lung cancer. Thoracostomy is a procedure that places a tube in the space between your lungs and chest wall (pleural space).
How long does a thoracotomy surgery take?
A thoracotomy typically takes
3 to 4 hours
, and the surgical team will give you medicine to make you sleep through it. When the operation gets underway, your surgeon will start with a cut around 6 inches long on your left or right side, just below the tip of your shoulder blade.
How do you sleep after thoracotomy?
You can sleep in any position that is comfortable
. Some patients need to sleep sitting in an upright position at first. It may be painful to sleep on your side, but it will not hurt your heart or incisions.
How effective is thoracotomy?
The survival rate after the emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) in trauma patients varies from the previous study as
1.6% in blunt injury and 11.2% in penetrating injury
. Most of the data came from Europe, the US, South Africa, and Japan.
