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A member asked:
What anesthesia is needed for a thoracotomy?
6 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Thoracotomy: General anesthesia is needed. The anesthesiologist may place an epidural for use in post-op pain control.
Answered 7/26/2012
5.7k views
General anesthesia: A thoracotomy is a major operation which involves opening the chest: possibly to remove tumor, clear infection, or to repair the heart. It requires full general anesthesia, usually with a special tube to allow only one lung to be ventilated at a time. An epidural catheter often is placed for additional pain control. Consult a thoracic anesthesiologist for more information. Good luck!
Answered 11/28/2012
5.6k views
General anesthesia: A thoracic epidural might be suggested for post-operative pain, but you will need to be asleep for this surgery.
Answered 4/24/2015
5.2k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
Why should a patient try to control coughing and gasping during thoracotomy?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
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I had a thoracotomy procedure 2 weeks ago, due to 3 spontaneous pneomothorax, is it possible to have another one? And does surgery really help?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Please explain why would you need a thoracotomy for pneumothorax?
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