| Thoracostomy | |
|---|---|
 A tube thoracostomy unit | |
| Specialty | Pulmonology |
| ICD-10-PCS | Z46.82 |
| MeSH | D006468 |
| MedlinePlus | 002947 |
| eMedicine | 80678 |
A thoracostomy is a small incision of the chest wall,[1] with maintenance of the opening for drainage.[2] It is most commonly used for the treatment of a pneumothorax. This is performed by physicians, paramedics, and nurses usually via needle thoracostomy or an incision into the chest wall with the insertion of a thoracostomy tube (chest tube) or with a hemostat and the provider's finger (finger thorocostomy).[3]
- ^ 9 UPCC Inverness Thoracostomy, retrieved 2023-04-25
- ^ Dorland WA (2009). Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary (28t ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier. ISBN 978-1-4160-3420-9.
- ^ Karrer A, Cosper J, Monroe BJ, Escott ME, Kimmel K, Gleisberg GR (28 March 2014). "Simple Thoracostomy: Moving Beyond Needle Decompression in Traumatic Cardiac Arrest". Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS).