Page 15 - Chest Surgery

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Location

1. Posterolateral thoracotomy

• incision starts in front of the anterior axillary line at
the anterior border of the latissimus dorsi and passes
3-6 cm below the scapula tip, extending posteriorly

and cephalad midway between the posterior midline

over the vertebral bodies and the medial border of
the scapula.

2. Anterior (anterolateral) thoracotomy

• incision begins just lateral to the sternal edge and
follows the inframammary crease up to the anterior

axillary line. The angle of Louis and hence the
second rib are used as a reference point for counting

the ribs.