Overview

• Scars on the chest can suggest past surgery, trauma, burns and healed skin conditions.

• • Common Thoracic Surgical Scars

  • Sternotomy (midline)Most cardiac surgery, esp. CABG
  • Anterior thoracotomy (submammary)Lung biopsy, pericardial surgery
  • Posterolateral thoracotomy (axillary)Most non-cardiac thoracic procedures
  • Clamshell (bilateral subpectoral)Lung transplantation
  • Left subclavicularPacemaker insertion