Final answer:
A rib spreader is used in cardiothoracic surgery to spread the ribs apart, facilitating access to the thoracic organs. It is not used to remove ribs but to provide access during chest surgeries such as heart or lung operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct option : b
The usage of a rib spreader is common in cardiothoracic surgery, a medical specialty focused on surgical procedures involving the chest cavity, which includes the heart and lungs. This device is not used to remove a rib, as the question implies, but rather to spread the ribs apart to provide better access to the thoracic organs during surgery. When a patient undergoes a procedure such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve repair or replacement, or lung surgery, a rib spreader is often a critical tool to facilitate these interventions.
Performing such surgeries requires specialized knowledge and skills associated with cardiothoracic surgery, which differs significantly from orthopedic surgery dealing with bones and joints, gastroenterology focusing on the digestive system, or neurosurgery targeting the central and peripheral nervous systems.