[Muscle-sparing thoracotomy: a renewed approach in thoracic surgery]

Lateral thoracotomy has been the traditional approach in general thoracic surgery for several decades, and with anterior and posterior extension, gives excellent exposure for almost all intrathoracic procedures. However, division of the chest wall muscles, usually with diathermy, contributes to prolonged pain and morbidity. A muscle-sparing thoracotomy which preserves chest wall muscles and gives adequate exposure has been used by us for the past 2 years as an alternative to the standard thoracotomy.