Alternative (muscle-sparing) incisions in thoracic surgery.
The technique, advantages, and disadvantages of a vertical axillary thoracotomy are discussed. This is a total muscle-sparing incision that allows adequate exposure of all intrathoracic structures. Postoperatively, there is excellent cosmetic healing and full shoulder girdle movement. The postthoracotomy pain also appears to be less. I prefer this approach for most routine thoracotomies, although I do not use it when chest wall resections or extremely difficult hilar dissections are anticipated.
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
R J
RJ
Ginsberg
D001365:Axilla; D006801:Humans; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*