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Thoracotomy
Procedure allowing access to the chest cavity, either right or left via a rib sparing approach or by taking a rib based on the reason or indication for the surgery with the need for a chest tube being placed postoperatively.
Dr. Thomas Dowling reviewed this
42 year experience in Orthopedic Spine Surgery
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Related questions
A 39-year old asked:
Typical thoracotomy recovery time?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 47-year old asked:
What should I expect from a thoracotomy?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 38-year old asked:
What is average thoracotomy recovery time?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 39-year old asked:
What should yoou expect from a thoracotomy?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 45-year old asked:
What can I expect during recovery of a thoracotomy?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 28-year old male asked:
What is the definition or description of: thoracotomy?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 48-year old asked:
How long after a thoracotomy for pneumo can I return to work?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 45-year old asked:
Is a thoracotomy a complicated surgery ?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 48-year old asked:
What anesthesia is needed for a thoracotomy?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
A 37-year old asked:
What condition calls for a double thoracotomy?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 34-year old asked:
Thoracotomy: i'm wondering if this is a complicated surgery?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 49-year old asked:
Why should a patient try to control coughing and gasping during thoracotomy?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 20-year old female asked:
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?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 39-year old asked:
Why would someone need a thoracotomy for pneumothorax?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
A 44-year old asked:
What could a thoracotomy do for a pneumothorax?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 45-year old asked:
Do I have to get some blood tests before doing a thoracotomy?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 40-year old asked:
Please explain why would you need a thoracotomy for pneumothorax?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 31-year old asked:
How long after surgery (thoracotomy) until you get back to normal?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 26-year old male asked:
When to thoracotomy when videothoracoscopy with hemothorax.If there are recommendations, please give a link to the article.
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 48-year old asked:
Why did the doctor tell me to control coughing and gasping during thoracotomy?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 20-year old female asked:
Does a thoracotomy procedure really reduce the chances of me getting another pneumothorax? And is surgery really worth it?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 20-year old female asked:
Can nerve pain from a thoracotomy make your chest hurt?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 20-year old female asked:
I have a sharp pain on my mid back , is it because of a pnemothorax or just because i had a thoracotomy 2 weeks ago?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 20-year old female asked:
I had a thoracotomy procedure done to me due to pneumothorax , when i lay down close to where my procedure was, and its a little bubbly. Is that bad?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 48-year old asked:
Double thoracotomy and heart surgery, what to do?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 20-year old female asked:
I am terrified of having another lung collapse, i had 3 lung collapses over the course of a month and then a thoracotomy , is it possible to go away?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 43-year old asked:
How effective is a thoracotomy for treating lung cancer?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 35-year old female asked:
When i cough or flex stomach, a bulge appears next to my left shoulder blade. This area has hurt since thoracotomy almost two years ago, bulge is new.
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 20-year old female asked:
Is it normal to feel a little short of breath, and have minor chest and back pains after having a thoracotomy procedure done like almost two weeks ago?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A male asked:
I cant move left arm & upper chest normally since thoracotomy caused scar tissue. What to do?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
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