Bilateral anterior thoracotomy (Clamshell Incision) is the ideal emergency thoracotomy incision: An anatomical study: Reply

摘要

Thank you for your interest in our article, "Bilateral Anterior Thoracotomy (Clamshell Incision) Is The Ideal Emergency Thoracotomy Incision: An Anatomical Study" [1]. We have read your letter and are pleased to have this type of important dialogue regarding these different thoracic incisions in both cadavers and real patients. We understand your point that median sternotomy is ideal for injuries of the anterior mediastinum, providing excellent access to the heart, ascending aorta, and the aortic arch and its branches (although access to the left subclavian artery remains difficult through median sternotomy). It is the timing and ease of this difficult incision in the hands of the inexperienced practitioner that we find gives the edge to the clamshell incision for rapid access to thoracic structures.