The second law of thermodynamics says that the entropy of the universe (or any isolated system therein) is increasing; i.e., the energy of the universe is becoming more uniformly distributed. It is often noted that the second law indicates that nature tends to go from order to disorder, from complexity to simplicity.
Small-bore catheters and Heimlich valves have been successfully used in. the treatment of pneumothoraces in several studies.4,5 The thoracic vent. (see Figure 1) is a minimally invasive device for the treatment of. pneumothorax. It consists of a polyurethane catheter connected to a. plastic chamber containing a one-way valve.
We are able to operate through a relatively small incision because we use visual magnification, headlight illumination, and long, thin instruments. What is it used for? A thoracotomy is used for lung operations such as lobectomy, pneumonectomy, removal of deep lung tumors, or extensive decortication. Thoracotomy may be required for the removal of mediastinal tumors, or small tumors that are adherent to large blood vessels.