Lung surgery using a thoracotomy is an open surgery procedure. In this surgery, the patient needs to lie on the side on an operating table, with the arms placed above the head.
The surgeon makes a surgical cut between two ribs. These ribs will be removed and separated safely. The lung on this side is deflated during surgery so that air will not move in and out of it. This makes it easier for the surgeon to operate on the lung.
Depending on the patient’s condition, the surgeon decides what type of surgery is required. After the surgery, the surgeon closes the ribs, muscles, and skin with sutures. Open lung surgery usually takes from 2 to 6 hours.