Etymed
thoracotomy
Definition
surgical incision into the chest wall
Clinical context
A 28-year-old trauma patient presents after a motor vehicle accident with massive hemothorax and cardiac tamponade. Emergency thoracotomy is performed through a left anterior thoracotomy incision to control bleeding and relieve tamponade. The patient requires immediate surgical intervention due to life-threatening chest trauma.
Mnemonic
THORACOTOMY: T-TRAUMA, H-HEART, O-RTHOPEDIC, R-RESPIRATORY, A-ABDOMINAL, C-CLINICAL, O-OPEN, T-THORAX