Thoracic surgical procedures

surgical procedure in which a patient's diseased lungs are partially or totally replaced

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

type of surgical drain, plastic tubing used for drainage of air or fluid from the pleural space

A pneumonectomy (or pneumectomy) is a surgical procedure to remove a lung. It was first successfully performed in 1933 by Dr. Evarts Graham. This is not to be confused with a lobectomy or segmentectomy, which only removes one part of the lung.

Thoracoscopy is a medical procedure involving internal examination, biopsy and/or resection/drainage of disease or masses within the pleural cavity, usually with video assistance. Thoracoscopy may be performed either under general anaesthesia or under sedation with local anaesthetic.

surgical procedure where part of the sympathetic nerve trunk is destroyed

Pleurodesis is a medical procedure in which part of the pleural space is artificially obliterated. It involves the adhesion of the visceral and the costal pleura. The mediastinal pleura is spared.

Mediastinoscopy is a procedure that enables visualization of the contents of the mediastinum, usually for the purpose of obtaining a biopsy. Mediastinoscopy is often used for staging of lymph nodes of lung cancer or for diagnosing other conditions affecting structures in the mediastinum such as sarcoidosis or lymphoma.

Cardioplegia is a solution given to the heart during cardiac surgery, to minimize the damage caused by myocardial ischemia while the heart is paused.

incision in the sternum

surgical procedure used to increase pulmonary blood flow for palliation in duct dependent cyanotic heart defects

surgical procedure used in children with univentricular hearts

type of thoracic surgery performed using a small video camera that is introduced into the patient's chest via small incisions

procedure for treating pectus excavatum

Decortication is a medical procedure involving the surgical removal of the surface layer, membrane, or fibrous cover of an organ. The procedure is usually performed when the lung is covered by a thick, inelastic pleural peel restricting lung expansion. In a non-medical aspect, decortication is the removal of the bark, husk, or outer layer, or peel of an object. It may also be done in the treatment of chronic laryngitis. It is the primary treatment for fibrothorax. __TOC__