thoracotomy

[thawr-uh-kot-uh-mee, thohr-]

noun

Surgery.

plural

thoracotomies 

1. incision into the chest cavity.

thoracotomy

/ ˌθɔːrəˈkɒtəmɪ /

noun

1. surgical incision into the chest wall

Word History and Origins

Origin of thoracotomy¹

First recorded in 1855–60; thoraco- + -tomy

Example Sentences

Ms Davis had undergone a thoracotomy operation - a surgical procedure where the chest wall is opened - in the February before her death.

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He and a team of medics performed a thoracotomy, opening up her chest and ribs like a clamshell.

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He and a team of medics performed an emergency thoracotomy, opening up her chest and ribs like a clamshell.

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“He was in surgery for four hours and it was one of the most complicated surgeries I have ever seen,” Mapplebeck said of the thoracotomy.

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After the operation, he suffered from thoracotomy syndrome “where it feels like your nerves are on fire inside of you, they won’t meld together. It’s just horrible.”

Read more on The Guardian