Thoracotomy is a medical procedure that allows internal examination of a patient’s lung, heart, aorta, trachea and diaphragm and is useful in diagnosing the cancer, determining its stage and removing visible tumors. The procedure may be done under general anaesthesia or sedation with local anaesthetic. In mesothelioma cases this procedure is done before completing pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy. It is also the preliminary procedure in many asbestos-related lung cancer surgeries.