Transverse sternothoracotomy.
Transverse sternothoracotomy (the clamshell incision) has been resurrected from the early days of cardiac surgery and is now used for double lung transplantation, bilateral pulmonary tumors, and selected mediastinal tumors. Bulky mediastinal tumors that project into the pleural space are exposed well with this incision.
Wright
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General Thoracic Surgical Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
D006801:Humans; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000379:methods; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*