thoracotomy

noun

tho·​ra·​cot·​o·​my ˌthȯr-ə-ˈkä-tə-mē 

plural thoracotomies

: surgical incision of the chest wall

Examples of thoracotomy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The first season featured heart attacks, third-degree burns and an emergency thoracotomy. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 5 June 2026

Lee died in the hospital where doctors performed an emergency thoracotomy, a cut through the rib cage, in an attempt to treat his wounds, according to the autopsy report. — Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 31 May 2023

Reduction of patients having lung surgery requiring a thoracotomy to around 50 percent versus a nationwide percentage of around 90 percent. — Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati.com, 24 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Latin thorac-, thorax + International Scientific Vocabulary -tomy

First Known Use

circa 1857, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for thoracotomy

• episiotomy
• laparotomy
• tracheotomy
• craniotomy
• dichotomy
• phlebotomy
• tenotomy
• vagotomy
• ovariotomy

Medical Definition

thoracotomy

noun

tho·​ra·​cot·​o·​my ˌthōr-ə-ˈkät-ə-mē, ˌthȯr- 

plural thoracotomies

: surgical incision of the chest wall