Thoracotomy

What is a Thoracotomy?

A thoracotomy is a more invasive procedure and is performed on patients suspected of having pleural mesothelioma.It involves making a surgical incision into the chest wall so that the surgeon can evaluate the area around the lungs and perform a biopsy of tissue that appears to be abnormal or tumor masses that may be present. This is a more risky procedure and is usually only performed if previous diagnostic tests such as a CT scan indicated that it would not be safe or feasible to do a thoracoscopy or needle biopsy instead.

What to Expect if Your Doctor Recommends a Thoracotomy

A thoracotomy is considered major surgery. General anesthesia is used for this procedure which is performed by a thoracic surgeon. Patients undergoing this surgery can expect to be in the hospital for at least five days and sometimes for as long as seven days. For this procedure general anesthesia is administered. The surgeon makes an incision in the chest between the ribs large enough to allow for a sufficient examination of the pleura. The incision may be as big as 3 or 4 inches. If abnormal tissue is identified, the surgeon will obtain a tissue sample and have it sent to the lab for testing to see if mesothelioma cells are present.

Risks Associated with Thoracotomy

As with all surgery involving general anesthesia, there are risks associated with the anesthesia itself including allergic reaction, nausea, headache and vomiting. Surgical risks for a thoracotomy include infection, excessive bleeding, injury to the lungs or blood vessels, continued fluid buildup in the chest area and pain.