which term means a surgical incision into the chest walls to open the pleural cavity
Thoracotomy means surgical incision of the chest or thorax. A  incision into the chest is done with two different methods. A  incision into the front of the chest is known aâ¦s a Median  Sternotomy. This is usually the incision used for cardiac bypass,  valve replacement, etc. A incision into the side of the chest is  known as a Thoracotomy.