thoracotomy

American

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

noun

Surgery.

PLURAL

thoracotomies

incision into the chest cavity.

thoracotomy British

/ ˌθɔːrəˈkɒtəmɪ /

noun

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

Etymology

Origin of thoracotomy

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

Compare meaning

How does thoracotomy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

thoracotomy vs. thoracostomy

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.

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

From BBC

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

From Washington Post

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

From Seattle Times

“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.

From Fox News

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023