Muscle-Sparing Thoracotomy: A Systematic Literature Review and the “Ave” Classification

Results and Discussion: On the basis of analysis of 45 articles we propose an anatomical classification of muscle-sparing thoracotomies considering the way in which the muscles are spared. Classification distinguishes five types of muscle-sparing thoracotomies which are represented originally using cylindrical projection of thorax. Type I is realized by enlarging auscultatory triangle, Type II by splitting of latissimus dorsi muscle fibers beneath the bifurcation of thoracodorsal nerve and artery, Type III by retracting latissimus muscle posteriorly and serratus anterior muscle anteriorly, Type IV by separating digitations of serratus anterior muscle in front of the long thoracic nerve, and Type V by disinserting serratus anterior muscle in its medial part. The significance of Kraissl’s lines remains unknown.