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Possible Complications
If you are planning to have a thoracotomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Damage to the organs in the chest
- Persistent pain (only in a few cases)
- Reaction to anesthesia
- Collection of air or gases in the chest
Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
- Major trauma involving multiple body parts
- Age
- Heavy smoker
- Previous stroke or heart attack
- Prior radiation therapy
- Chronic medical problems
Call Your Doctor
After you leave the hospital, call your doctor if any of the following occurs:
- Difficulty breathing or cough
- New pain in the chest or persistent and severe pain in the area of surgery
- Stitches or staples come apart
- Bandage becomes soaked with blood
- Cough up mucus that is yellow, green, or bloody
- Signs of infection, including fever and chills
- Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge at the incision site
- Severe nausea or vomiting
- Pain, burning, urgency or frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine
In case of an emergency, call 911.
I had a Thoracotomy done in connection with a Vertebrectomy on April 20th, 2012. I have what my surgeons called "nerves gone wild". I still have large areas skin numbness along with intense nerve pain. Although I have tried steriod combined with cortizone shots along the nerve path relief was partial and short lasting. This treatment only works in 25% of people. The surgeons had to enter on my right side, this was due to a calcified disc displacing and almost cutting into my spinal cord. I had to opt for this because I could not walk. If your doctor is suggesting this procedure for you, please talk about the pros and cons and bring this side effect up. I was not informed this could happen as a side effect.