Decortication

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Look up Decortication in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Decortication is a medical procedure involving the surgical removal of the surface layer, membrane, or fibrous cover of an organ. The procedure is usually performed when the lung is covered by a thick, inelastic pleural peel restricting lung expansion. In a non-medical aspect, decortication is the removal of the bark, husk, or outer layer, or peel of an object. [1]

[edit] Procedure

Decortication is performed under general anaesthesia. It is a major thoracic operation requiring a full thoracotomy. All fibrous tissue is removed from the visceral pleural peel and pus is subsequently drained from the pleural space. [2]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company
  2. ^ Sharma, Dr. Sat (2006-06-23). Pulmonary Empyema. WebMD. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.
 This medical treatment article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.