What you need to know about Thoracotomy Procedure
Contents
- 1 What you need to know about Thoracotomy Procedure
- 2 What Does the Procedure Involve?
- 3 How Long Should You Stay at the Destination?
- 4 How Long is the Recovery Time?
- 5 What Aftercare Should You Consider?
- 6 What is the Success Rate for Thoracotomy Procedure?
- 7 Are there Alternatives to a Thoracotomy Procedure?
- 8 What Should You Expect Before and After the Procedure?
A thoracotomy is a surgical procedure to open your chest to gain access to your lungs, heart, or esophagus. It is usually carried out to diagnose or treat an illness, such as to treat lung cancer, inflate a collapsed lung, repair the heart, remove a cyst in the chest, remove part of the chest walls, repair the diaphragm, or take out a tumor, lymph node, or blood clot.
What Does the Procedure Involve?
Before thoracotomy, you are given a general anesthetic. The surgery starts by making an incision on your left or right side below your shoulder blade and between your ribs, and then your surgeon divides your muscles and removes or spread the ribs to reach your lungs or other parts of your chest. When your surgeon has completed their work, tubs are placed to drain fluid, blood, or air that may have collected in your chest, the ribs are repaired, and the wound is closed with sutures.
For an in-depth analysis of a Thoracotomy Procedure, watch this short video.
How Long Should You Stay at the Destination?
Thoracotomy is a major operation, so you may have to stay in the hospital for four to seven days. Then, when you are discharged from the hospital, you may need to stay in the local area for 7 to 14 more days because you will need to attend follow-up checkups where your surgeon monitors your progress and removes the stitches.
How Long is the Recovery Time?
It may take around 4 to 6 weeks until you can resume your normal routine, including work if your job is not physically demanding. Make sure to avoid any vigorous activities, such as intense exercises and heavy lifting for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.
What Aftercare Should You Consider?
After your surgery, is it very important to eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of protein and fiber, as well as drinking a sufficient amount of liquids. You can ease back into light physical activities such as going for walks as soon as you can. You may want to schedule a follow-up appointment with your local doctor to check the results of your surgery.
What is the Success Rate for Thoracotomy Procedure?
The success rate of thoracotomy is high, but the outlook depends on the reason you had the procedure. The possible side effects and complications of thoracotomy include infection, bleeding, pneumonia, air leaking from your lungs, and deep vein thrombosis that can cause a blockage.
Are there Alternatives to a Thoracotomy Procedure?
If your condition can be treated with a simpler procedure, you can always opt for alternatives, including mini-thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). These alternatives are more minimally invasive and thought to be safer than thoracotomy.
What Should You Expect Before and After the Procedure?
Before a thoracotomy, your doctor may not be able to confirm their diagnosis or you may have dangerous problems in your chest that cause painful symptoms. After the procedure, your doctor will know for sure your condition and discuss the best treatment option for you. If your surgery is done to treat an illness, the symptoms of the illness may be significantly reduced or you may no longer feel any symptoms at all.
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