- thoracoplasty
- An operation that reduces intrathoracic space by removal of portions of the rigid chest wall. [thoraco- + G. plastos, formed]- conventional t. resection of ribs to allow inward retraction of the chest wall to reduce size of the pleural space; may be used in the treatment of empyema.
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tho·ra·co·plas·ty 'thōr-ə-kō-.plas-tē, 'thȯr- n, pl -ties the surgical operation of removing or resecting one or more ribs so as to obliterate the pleural cavity and collapse a diseased lung* * *
n.a former treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis involving surgical removal of parts of the ribs, thus allowing the chest wall to fall in and collapse the affected lung.* * *
tho·ra·co·plas·ty (thorґə-ko-plas″te) [thoraco- + -plasty] surgical removal of several ribs in order for the chest wall to move inward and collapse the lung; it was formerly a common method of collapse therapy (q.v.) and is still sometimes done to allow access during thoracic surgery. thoracoplastic adj
Medical dictionary. 2011.