Decortication

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]

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]

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.

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