Decortication 1582910 219345070 2008-06-14T20:01:11Z McM.bot 3453363 robot Adding: [[pl:Dekortykacja]] {{wiktionary}} '''Decortication''' is a [[medicine|medical]] procedure involving the [[surgery|surgical]] removal of the surface layer, [[membrane]], or fibrous cover of an [[organ (anatomy)|organ]]. The procedure is usually performed when the [[lung]] is covered by a thick, inelastic [[pulmonary pleura|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. <ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/61/6/D0080600.html ''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition'']. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company</ref> ==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. <ref>{{cite web| last = Sharma | first = Dr. Sat | title = Pulmonary Empyema | publisher = [[WebMD]] | date = [[2006-06-23]] | url = http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic659.htm | accessdate = 2007-02-18 }}</ref> ==Notes== <references/> [[Category:Surgical procedures]] [[Category:Surgery]] [[Category:Thoracic surgery]] {{treatment-stub}} [[pl:Dekortykacja]]