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A thoracotomy is a surgical procedure to gain access to the organs in the chest cavity: the lungs, heart, and esophagus, In lay terms it is known as 'cracking the chest' because it involves separating the ribs or cutting through the mediastinum.
Opening of the chest cavity for an operation is called Thoracotomy
Removal of ribs to collapse a diseased lung.
surgical opening in the wall of the chest