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thoracotomy

American  
[thawr-uh-kot-uh-mee, thohr-] / ˌθɔr əˈkɒt ə mi, ˌθoʊr- /

noun

Surgery.
  • thoracotomies
    plural
  1. incision into the chest cavity.


thoracotomy British  
/ ˌθɔːrəˈkɒtəmɪ /

noun

  1. surgical incision into the chest wall

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of thoracotomy

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


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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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

From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2025

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.”

From The Guardian ● Oct. 3, 2019

They performed an emergency thoracotomy - an extreme procedure to open the chest as part of resuscitation.

From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2016

The Children’s Hospital “babies” and the dummy simulating the thoracotomy at Mass General were created by people with an expertise in movie special effects.

From New York Times ● Nov. 9, 2015

Prompt thoracotomy for drainage may save the patient's life if the mediastinum has not also been infected.

From Bronchoscopy and Esophagoscopy A Manual of Peroral Endoscopy and Laryngeal Surgery by Chevalier Jackson

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