A thoracotomy (say "thor-uh-KAW-tuh-mee") is surgery done through a cut in the chest wall. The cut is called an incision. It is made between the ribs. The doctor can operate inside the chest through this incision. A thoracotomy may be used for surgery on the lungs, esophagus, trachea, heart, aorta, or diaphragm. The exact place where the incision is made depends on the reason for the surgery. It is usually across the side of the mid-chest.
Your doctor may need to cut through a rib or the breastbone (sternum). This is done to spread the ribs far enough to do the surgery. When the surgery is finished, the doctor will close the incision with stitches or staples. If a rib or the breastbone was cut, the doctor will use wire to hold the pieces of bone together as they heal.
Most people spend 3 to 7 days in the hospital after this type of surgery. You will be quite sore. You'll get medicine to help with this. Even though you will be sore, make sure that you breathe deeply and are as active as you can after surgery. This will help your lungs expand again. It will help you heal more quickly too. Also, be sure not to smoke after surgery.
The amount of time you will need to recover at home depends on the type of surgery you had. You will probably need to take at least 1 to 2 months off work.
Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
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A thoracotomy (say "thor-uh-KAW-tuh-mee") is a cut (incision) that the doctor makes in the chest wall through your front, side, or back. The doctor is able to do surgery inside the chest through the incision. A thoracotomy may be used to do surgery on the lungs, esophagus, trachea, heart, aorta, or diaphragm. The exact place in the chest where the doctor makes the incision depends on the reason for the surgery.
It is common to feel tired for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Your chest may hurt and be swollen for up to 6 weeks. It may ache or feel stiff for up to 3 months. You may also feel tightness, itching, numbness, or tingling around the incision for up to 3 months. Your doctor will give you medicine to help with pain.
You will have stitches or staples in the incision. You may have one or more tubes coming out of your chest to drain fluid and air that can build up after surgery. The tubes are often removed before you leave the hospital. Your doctor will remove the stitches or staples at your follow-up visit.
You may feel short of breath at first after the surgery. Your doctor, nurse, or respiratory therapist will teach you deep-breathing and coughing exercises to help your body get as much oxygen as possible. You also may need to get extra oxygen through a mask or a plastic tube in your nostrils (nasal cannula). This is called oxygen therapy.
The amount of time you will need to recover depends on the surgery you had. You probably will need to take at least 1 to 2 months off work.
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