title: Anterior axillary muscle-sparing thoracotomy for lung transplantation.
abstract: We have been using an anterior axillary muscle-sparing thoracotomy to perform single-lung transplantation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The incision allows excellent exposure and may lead to improved chest wall and shoulder girdle mechanics, which may allow for a faster recovery. This incision has become our preferred approach in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring single-lung transplantation who have not had a previous ipsilateral thoracic operation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pochettino
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bavaria
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*