Una toracotomía es un tipo de cirugía para abrir la pared torácica que se puede realizar cuando hay una enfermedad pulmonar o una enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC). La misma permite, además de los pulmones, acceder al esófago, la tráquea, la aorta, el corazón y el diafragma. Se puede realizar del lado derecho o izquierdo del pecho, o una toracotomía pequeña en el centro del pecho.

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A thoracotomy is an incision into the pleural space of the chest. It is performed by surgeons (or emergency physicians under certain circumstances) to gain access to the thoracic organs, most commonly the heart, the lungs, or the esophagus, or for access to the thoracic aorta or the anterior spine (the latter may be necessary to access tumors in the spine). Thoracotomy is a major surgical maneuver—it is the first step in many thoracic surgeries including lobectomy or pneumonectomy for lung cancer—and as such requires general anesthesia with endotracheal tube insertion and mechanical ventilation. Thoracotomies are thought to be one of the most difficult surgical incisions to deal with post-operatively, because they are extremely painful and the pain can prevent the patient from breathing effectively, leading to atelectasis or pneumonia.

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