Which type of incision is given in thoracotomy?
A thoracotomy is an incision used to access the pleural space of the thorax. The three main subtypes are the posterolateral incision, anterolateral incision, and axillary incision.
How long is a thoracotomy incision?
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 many incision lines are needed to open the thoracic cavity?
During thoracoscopic surgery, three small (approximately 1-inch) incisions are used, as compared with one long 6- to 8-inch chest incision that is used during traditional, “open” thoracic surgery. Surgical instruments and the thoracoscope are inserted through these small incisions.
How do you close a thoracotomy incision?
Note that some authors advocate posterior transection of the rib to avoid fracture. Closure of the incision starts by inserting pericostal sutures. We use several heavy absorbable sutures (polyglactin No 2) which are placed 2 cm apart. Each of the 2 musculofascial layers is closed with an absorbable running suture.
What are the complications of thoracotomy?
Possible risks from thoracotomy include:
- infection.
- bleeding.
- air leaking from your lungs.
- pneumonia.
- blood clot in your leg (deep vein thrombosis) that can travel to a lung and cause a blockage (pulmonary embolism)
How serious is a thoracotomy?
Immediate risks from the surgery include infection, bleeding, persistent air leakage from your lung and pain. Pain is the most commonly encountered complication of this procedure, and pain along the ribs and site of incision will most likely subside over days to weeks.
Why would you do a thoracotomy?
Thoracotomy is often done to treat lung cancer. Sometimes it’s used to treat problems with your heart or other structures in your chest, such as your diaphragm. Thoracotomy can also be used to help diagnose disease. For example, it can enable a surgeon to remove a piece of tissue for further examination (biopsy).
