Heart surgery. Image 4 of 24. Surgeon using a cautery knife to cut open a patient's pericardium, the sac that encloses the heart, during heart surgery

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Heart surgery. Image 4 of 24. Surgeon using a cautery knife to cut open a patient's pericardium, the sac that encloses the heart, during heart surgery. heart surgery. The breastbone (sternum) has already been cut and is being held open by metal retractors. A cautery knife is used because it burns (cauterises) the flesh to prevent bleeding. This chest is being opened to perform heart valve replacement surgery. For a sequence showing the operation, see images M560/494 to M560/517.

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Size: 3508px × 2332px
Photo credit: © AJ PHOTO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: adult, cardiac, cardiothoracic, caucasian, cauterising, cautery, chest, cut, cutting, device, doctor, equipment, forceps, gloved, gloves, heart, hospital, human, incision, knife, medical, medicine, open, opening, operating, operation, patient, pericardium, procedure, replacement, retractor, retractors, sequence, skin, spreaders, surgeon, surgery, surgical, theatre, thoracic, tool, treatment, valve, wound