Possible Complications

What to Expect

Call Your Doctor

En Español

Thoracotomy

(Lung Surgery; Surgery, Lung)

How to Say It: THOR-uh-cot-uh-mee

by Amy Scholten, MPH

Definition

A thoracotomy is surgery to open the chest.

Reasons for Procedure

This surgery is done to access the chest to diagnose or treat diseases of the lungs, aorta, heart, diaphragm, and spine. For example, the opening may be used to:

Remove tumors or lymph nodes
Remove blood clots from the chest
Remove part or all of the lung
Repair the heart
Treat a lung that has collapsed due to disease or injury

Possible Complications

Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over some problems that could happen, such as:

Excess bleeding
Problems from anesthesia, such as wheezing or sore throat
Infection
Blood clots
Collapsed lung
Damage to other organs or structures
A buildup of air or gases in the chest

Things that may raise the risk of problems are:

Smoking
Drinking
Chronic diseases, such as diabetes or obesity
Major injury to multiple body parts
Prior radiation therapy

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

The surgical team may meet with you to talk about:

Anesthesia options
Any allergies you may have
Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before surgery
Fasting before surgery, such as avoiding food or drink after midnight the night before
Whether you need a ride to and from surgery
Tests that will need to be done before surgery

Anesthesia

The doctor will give general anesthesia. You will be asleep.

Description of Procedure

An incision will be made between two ribs on the left or right side of the chest. The chest wall will then be opened. A tube will be inserted to drain fluid or air. Any needed procedure will be done at this time. The chest will be closed. The incisions will be closed with stitches or staples. A bandage will be placed over the site.

Incision and Drainage Tubes

How Long Will It Take?

About 3 to 4 hours or longer

Will It Hurt?

Pain is common in the first six weeks. Medicine and home care help.

Average Hospital Stay

The usual length of stay is 5 to 10 days. If you have problems you may need to stay longer.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

After the procedure, the staff may:

Give medicines to control pain and nausea
Remove any tubes placed during surgery
Teach exercises to promote breathing

During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to lower your risk of infection, such as:

Washing their hands
Wearing gloves or masks
Keeping your incisions covered

There are also steps you can take to lower your risk of infection, such as:

Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and staff to do the same
Reminding staff to wear gloves or masks
Not letting others touch your incision

At Home

Recovery may take 4 to 6 weeks. Physical activity will be limited during this time. You will need to ask for help with daily activities and delay return to work.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you are not getting better or you have:

Signs of infection, such as fever and chills
Redness, swelling, excessive bleeding, or discharge at the incision site
Lasting nausea or vomiting
Pain that you cannot control with medicine
Problems breathing
Coughing up mucus that is yellow, green, or bloody

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

American Thoracic Society
http://patients.thoracic.org

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
http://www.sts.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery
http://canadianvascular.ca

The Lung Association
http://www.lung.ca

References:

Hemothorax. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hemothorax. Accessed January 13, 2021.

Raveglia F, Scarci M. J Thorac Dis. 2019 Mar; 11(3): 370–375.Ultimate management of post thoracotomy morbidities: a set of surgical technique and peri-operative precautions.

Thoracotomy. American Lung Association website. Available at: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/thoracotomy. Accessed January 13, 2021.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 1/13/2021

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