Thoracic
Thoracic is a term that refers to anything relating to the thorax. In everyday language, the thorax is the chest cavity, the area between the neck and the diaphragm (1). In addition to being called the thorax or the chest cavity, it is also referred to as the thoracic cavity. It is the second largest of the cavities in the human body, only smaller than the abdominal cavity. Protected by the ribs and the breastbone, the thoracic cavity contains the heart and the lungs as well as parts of the esophagus trachea, and many vital veins and arteries (2).
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People suffering from various internal injuries and/or diseases may face thoracic
surgery. Patients are usually required to not eat for 8 to 12 hours before going into the hospital for the surgery. Thoracic surgery requires general anesthesia as well as breathing tubes known as endo-tracheal tubes (3). Traditionally thoracic surgery requires an incision from under the collarbone in back toward the front of the body and under the arm. An incision can also be made through the breastbone to allow access to the chest cavity.
A newer, less invasive form of surgery is video assisted thoracic surgery, or VATS. The VATS procedure requires a couple smaller incisions usually made between the ribs (4). The doctor inserts an endoscope, essentially a small tube with a camera attached, into the area in question. Other small incisions allow insertion of the tools needed to complete the surgery. The doctor watches the viewing screen of the endoscope to locate the problem area, and perform the necessary procedures.
A traditional thoracic surgery procedure may require hospitalization of up to a few weeks, while aftercare for a VATS procedure may only require a couple days in the hospital. Generally some therapy is needed to ensure full lung function after a thoracic surgery.