THORACOTOMY Definition & Meaning

thoracotomy

[ thawr-uh-kot-uh-mee, thohr- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Surgery.

plural thoracotomies.

incision into the chest cavity.

thoracotomy

/ ˌθɔː��əˈ��ɒ��ə��ɪ /

noun

surgical incision into the chest wall

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of thoracotomy¹

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

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

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Example Sentences

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

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

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“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.

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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.”

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According to Dr. Drew McRoberts, the trauma director at PMC, an emergency department thoracotomy is performed in life and death situations.

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