What is Thoracic Surgery  

Thoracic surgery is a medical specialty that deals with surgical procedures involving the organs located in the chest cavity, such as the lungs, heart, esophagus, and other vital structures. In this article, we will explore the basics of thoracic surgery, including its types, procedures, and possible complications.  

Types of Thoracic Surgery  

Thoracic surgery can be broadly categorized into the following types:  

Lung Surgery  

Lung surgery involves the removal or repair of lung tissues affected by various conditions such as lung cancer, pulmonary nodules, infections, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  

Mediastinal Surgery  

Mediastinal surgery involves the removal or biopsy of the tissues located in the mediastinum, the central part of the chest that separates the lungs. This type of surgery is usually performed to diagnose or treat conditions such as mediastinal tumors, thymomas, and lymph node enlargements.  

Chest Wall Surgery  

Chest wall surgery involves the repair or reconstruction of the bony and soft tissue structures of the chest wall that may be damaged by trauma, tumors, or infections.  

Esophageal Surgery  

Esophageal surgery involves the removal or repair of the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. This type of surgery is usually performed to treat conditions such as esophageal cancer, esophageal strictures, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  

Cardiac Surgery  

Cardiac surgery involves the surgical procedures that are performed on the heart and its associated structures. This type of surgery is usually performed to treat conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, and congenital heart defects.  

Procedures Involved in Thoracic Surgery  

The following are some of the common procedures involved in thoracic surgery:  

Lobectomy  

Lobectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a lobe of the lung affected by cancer, pulmonary nodules, or other lung diseases.  

Mediastinoscopy  

Mediastinoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that involves the insertion of a tube-like instrument called a mediastinoscope through a small incision in the neck to visualize the tissues of the mediastinum.  

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)  

VATS is a minimally invasive surgical technique that involves the insertion of a tiny camera and surgical instruments through small incisions in the chest to perform surgical procedures on the lungs or other structures in the chest cavity.  

Esophagectomy  

Esophagectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of all or a part of the esophagus and the reconstruction of the remaining portion using a section of the stomach or intestine.  

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)  

CABG is a surgical procedure that involves the bypassing of a blocked or narrowed coronary artery using a blood vessel from another part of the body.  

Possible Complications of Thoracic Surgery  

Thoracic surgery, like any other surgical procedure, can have some potential complications, such as:  

• Infection  
• Bleeding  
• Pain  
• Pneumonia  
• Blood clots  
• Lung collapse  
• Nerve damage  
• Anesthesia complications  

Thoracic surgery is a specialized field of medicine that deals with the surgical management of various conditions affecting the organs in the chest cavity. The types of thoracic surgery include lung surgery, mediastinal surgery, chest wall surgery, esophageal surgery, and cardiac surgery. The procedures involved in thoracic surgery include lobectomy, mediastinoscopy  

Top Thoracic Surgeon In Santa Ana, CA  

1. Dr. Robert A. Hitzeman, Thoracic Surgeon, OrthoIllinois Surgical Specialists, 425 W. Roosevelt Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187 

2. Dr. James F. Zidar, Thoracic Surgeon, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 

3. Dr. Daniel A. Miller, Thoracic Surgeon, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 410 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210 

4. Dr. Gary L. Johnson, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 

5. Dr. David J. Sugarbaker, Thoracic Surgeon, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02115 

6. Dr. John M. Kernstine, Thoracic Surgeon, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030 

7. Dr. Paul C. Kincaid, Thoracic Surgeon, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44195 

8. Dr. David M. Jablons, Thoracic Surgeon, UCSF Medical Center, 505 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143 

9. Dr. David C. Rice, Thoracic Surgeon, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl., New York, NY 10029 

10. Dr. Michael E. Mulligan, Thoracic Surgeon, Stanford Health Care, 300 Pasteur Dr., Stanford, CA 94305 

11. Dr. Michael S. Mulligan, Thoracic Surgeon, Univesity of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195 

12. Dr. Stephen F. Lowry, Thoracic Surgeon, Duke University Medical Center, 2301 Erwin Rd., Durham, NC 27710 

13. Dr. Robert L. Kormos, Thoracic Surgeon, UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside, 200 Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 

14. Dr. Mark D. Muhonen, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Dr., Iowa City, IA 52242 

15. Dr. John T. Mullen, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Colorado Hospital, 12605 E. 16th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045 

16. Dr. Jeffrey M. Pappas, Thoracic Surgeon, Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202 

17. Dr. William C. Chapman, Thoracic Surgeon, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065 

18. Dr. Brian W. Rotenberg, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 

19. Dr. John M. Varlotto, Thoracic Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114 

20. Dr. Mark J. Krasna, Thoracic Surgeon, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048 

21. Dr. Stephen R. Grobmyer, Thoracic Surgeon, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 Medical Center Dr., Nashville, TN 37232 

22. Dr. Eric G. Pauli, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Virginia Health System, 1215 Lee St., Charlottesville, VA 22908 

23. Dr. Christopher W. Gossman, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53792 

24. Dr. Randall W. Pearson, Thoracic Surgeon, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 5777 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054 

25. Dr. Steven D. Mentzer, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Pennsylvania Health System, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104 

26. Dr. Jeffrey R. Jacobs, Thoracic Surgeon, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1800 Orleans St., Baltimore, MD 21287 

27. Dr. David C. Rice, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Michigan Medical Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 

28. Dr. James D. Luketich, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 

29. Dr. William R. Aughenbaugh, Thoracic Surgeon, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143 

30. Dr. Paul A. Kurlansky, Thoracic Surgeon, NYU Langone Medical Center, 550 1st Ave., New York, NY 10016 

31. Dr. Paul A. Anderson, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Minnesota Medical Center, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 

32. Dr. David J. Sugarbaker, Thoracic Surgeon, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215 

33. Dr. William E. Nichols, Thoracic Surgeon, UC San Diego Health, 200 W. Arbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92103 

34. Dr. Michael J. Liptay, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian, 200 Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 

35. Dr. James D. Luketich, Thoracic Surgeon, Allegheny General Hospital, 320 E. North Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212 

36. Dr. Kenneth A. Kesler, Thoracic Surgeon, Stanford Health Care, 300 Pasteur Dr., Stanford, CA 94305 

37. Dr. Michael J. Liptay, Thoracic Surgeon, UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside, 200 Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 

38. Dr. David A. Rizik, Thoracic Surgeon, Duke University Medical Center, 2301 Erwin Rd., Durham, NC 27710 

39. Dr. John M. Kernstine, Thoracic Surgeon, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, 3 Cooper Plaza, Camden, NJ 08103 

40. Dr. Robert A. Hitzeman, Thoracic Surgeon, Northwest Community Hospital, 800 W. Central Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005 

41. Dr. J. Stewart Wolf, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St. S., Birmingham, AL 35294 

42. Dr. David C. Rice, Thoracic Surgeon, UCLA Medical Center, 200 S. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033 

43. Dr. David M. Jablons, Thoracic Surgeon, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St., San Francisco, CA 94143 

44. Dr. James F. Zidar, Thoracic Surgeon, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32224 

45. Dr. Bruce D. Minsky, Thoracic Surgeon, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 251 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611 

46. Dr. Randall W. Pearson, Thoracic Surgeon, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 

47. Dr. Daniel A. Miller, Thoracic Surgeon, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 410 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210 

48. Dr. David A. Rizik, Thoracic Surgeon, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 Medical Center Dr., Nashville, TN 37232 

49. Dr. Jean-Nicolas Vauthey, Thoracic Surgeon, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065 

50. Dr. George R. Simon, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 

51. Dr. David J. Sugarbaker, Thoracic Surgeon, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, 1153 Centre St., Boston, MA 02130 

52. Dr. Paul C. Kincaid, Thoracic Surgeon, Cleveland Clinic Florida, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd., Weston, FL 33331 

53. Dr. Steven D. Mentzer, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 S. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201 

54. Dr. J. Stewart Wolf, Thoracic Surgeon, UAB Hospital, 619 19th St. S., Birmingham, AL 35294 

55. Dr. Mark J. Krasna, Thoracic Surgeon, UCLA Medical Center, 200 S. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033 

56. Dr. Paul A. Anderson, Thoracic Surgeon, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 

57. Dr. Robert L. Kormos, Thoracic Surgeon, Allegheny General Hospital, 320 E. North Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212 

58. Dr. Christopher W. Gossman, Thoracic Surgeon, Froedtert Hospital, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53226 

59. Dr. Stephen F. Lowry, Thoracic Surgeon, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157 

60. Dr. Eric G. Pauli, Thoracic Surgeon, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, 600 Gresham Dr., Norfolk, VA 23507 

61. Dr. Michael S. Mulligan, Thoracic Surgeon, Harborview Medical Center, 325 9th Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 

62. Dr. Glenn D. Steele, Jr., Thoracic Surgeon, University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 

63. Dr. Kenneth A. Kesler, Thoracic Surgeon, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, 725 Welch Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94304 

64. Dr. John M. Varlotto, Thoracic Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital West, 15 Parkman St., Boston, MA 02114 

65. Dr. Michael E. Mulligan, Thoracic Surgeon, Stanford Children's Health, 300 Pasteur Dr., Stanford, CA 94305 

66. Dr. Randall W. Pearson, Thoracic Surgeon, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 5777 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054 

67. Dr. Robert A. Hitzeman, Thoracic Surgeon, Central DuPage Hospital, 25 N. Winfield Rd., Winfield, IL 60190 

68. Dr. Steven D. Mentzer, Thoracic Surgeon, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104 

69. Dr. Mark D. Muhonen, Thoracic Surgeon, Mercy Medical Center, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 

70. Dr. Jeffrey R. Jacobs, Thoracic Surgeon, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, MD 21224 

71. Dr. William E. Nichols, Thoracic Surgeon, Scripps Clinic La Jolla, 10666 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037 

72. Dr. Paul A. Kurlansky, Thoracic Surgeon, NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, 150 55th St., Brooklyn, NY 11220 

73. Dr. Gary L. Johnson, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 

74. Dr. Jeffrey M. Pappas, Thoracic Surgeon, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, 3601 W. 13 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, MI 48073 

75. Dr. Daniel A. Miller, Thoracic Surgeon, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 410 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210 

76. Dr. John M. Kernstine, Thoracic Surgeon, MD Anderson Cancer Center Main, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030 

77. Dr. Jean-Nicolas Vauthey, Thoracic Surgeon, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065 

78. Dr. William R. Aughenbaugh, Thoracic Surgeon, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143 

79. Dr. Stephen R. Grobmyer, Thoracic Surgeon, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 Medical Center Dr., Nashville, TN 37232 

80. Dr. Mark J. Krasna, Thoracic Surgeon, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048 

81. Dr. Michael S. Mulligan, Thoracic Surgeon, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, 825 Eastlake Ave. E, Seattle, WA 98109 

82. Dr. John T. Mullen, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Colorado Hospital, 12605 E. 16th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045 

83. Dr. William C. Chapman, Thoracic Surgeon, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065 

84. Dr. David A. Rizik, Thoracic Surgeon, Duke University Medical Center, 2301 Erwin Rd., Durham, NC 27710 

85. Dr. Michael J. Liptay, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 

86. Dr. David M. Jablons, Thoracic Surgeon, UCSF Medical Center, 505 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143 

87. Dr. Brian W. Rotenberg, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 

88. Dr. Bruce D. Minsky, Thoracic Surgeon, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 251 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611 

89. Dr. Jeffrey M. Pappas, Thoracic Surgeon, Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202 

90. Dr. Stephen R. Grobmyer, Thoracic Surgeon, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 Medical Center Dr., Nashville, TN 37232 

91. Dr. Christopher W. Gossman, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53792 

92. Dr. John T. Mullen, Thoracic Surgeon, University of Colorado Hospital, 12605 E. 16th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045 

93. Dr. William R. Aughenbaugh, Thoracic Surgeon, California Pacific Medical Center, 2340 Clay St., San Francisco, CA 94115 

94. Dr. Randall W. Pearson, Thoracic Surgeon, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 

95. Dr. David C. Rice, Thoracic Surgeon, UCLA Medical Center, 200 S. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033 

96. Dr. Paul A. Anderson, Thoracic Surgeon, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 

97. Dr. James F. Zidar, Thoracic Surgeon, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32224 

98. Dr. J. Stewart Wolf, Thoracic Surgeon, UAB Hospital, 619 19th St. S., Birmingham, AL 35294 

99. Dr. Kenneth A. Kesler, Thoracic Surgeon, Stanford Health Care, 300 Pasteur Dr., Stanford, CA 94305 

100. Dr. Robert A. Hitzeman, Thoracic Surgeon, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, 25 N. Winfield Rd., Winfield, IL 60190