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Thoracotomy

Surgical Procedure

A thoracotomy is a surgical procedure that involves cutting open the chest wall to gain access to the pleural cavity. It is mostly performed by specialist cardiothoracic surgeons, though emergency physicians or paramedics occasionally perform it under life-threatening circumstances.

Facts
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Status
Standard of Care 1
Thoracotomy
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FAQs

How long can open lung surgery through a thoracotomy take?

According to the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Open lung surgery may take from 2 to 6 hours.
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Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
Thoracotomy (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoracotomy, lead section
Quote, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoracotomy, lead section
A thoracotomy is a surgical procedure that involves cutting open the chest wall to gain access into the pleural cavity.
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