A technique facilitating muscle-sparing thoracotomy.

The muscle-sparing thoracotomy technique preserves the latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscles and provides excellent exposure for most thoracic and mediastinal operations. It also reduces postoperative pain and complications, and preserves pulmonary function. The technique has been developed further to facilitate subcutaneous dissection by insufflation of air from a syringe connected to a large-bore needle via a 3-way tap.