Thoracotomy with decortication is a surgical procedure combining thoracotomy and decortication to address lung issues. Thoracotomy involves creating an incision into the chest pleural space for access to the lungs. Decortication removes part of the pleural membrane covering the lungs if infected, containing tumors, or preventing lung expansion. The two procedures are commonly used together to treat chronic empyema by removing accumulated pus from the pleural cavity.

1. Thoracotomy with Decortication
Sometimes, when the condition needs it, thoracotomy with decortications as a surgical
procedure may also be done. These are two different procedures that are joined together in one
surgery to address a specific problem in the lung area. Defining separately, thoracotomy is
known to be creating an incision or opening into the pleural space of the chest. This is done for
the physicians to have complete access to the essential organs most especially the lungs.
Thoracotomy is greatly related to the procedure known a decortication. Decortication is known
to be the surgical removal of a part of the layer that serves to protect the lungs or what is known
as the pleural membrane. Decortication is usually necessary when a part of the pleural
membrane of covering of the lung is infected or has any kind of malignant or benign tumor.
Aside from this, decortications may also be necessary if there is the presence of an inelastic
peel that prevents the lungs to achieve right expansion.
One of the most common conditions in which both procedures, thoracotomy with decortications
is necessary is when someone has chronic empyema. Both thoracotomy and decortications are
needed for the treatment of this medical problem. Pulmonary empyema is known to be the
formation and collection of pus within a naturally present cavity inside the body primarily the
pleural cavity. Empyema is different from an abscess because the latter is the formation and
collection of pus in a newly made cavity inside the body. All the pus that have been
accumulated in the pleural cavity due to empyema is effectively removed and properly
eliminated through the two surgical procedures brought together known as the thoracotomy
with decortications.
Thoracotomy with Decortication
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