Cardiothoracic Surgery

The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery is a surgical specialty that deals with diseases affecting organs inside the chest (thorax). It is divided into two main areas: cardiac surgery (heart and major blood vessels) and thoracic surgery (lungs, esophagus, and other chest structures).

Cardiac surgeons perform operations on the heart and great vessels. Common procedures include coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), which creates new routes around blocked heart arteries; heart valve repair or replacement; and repair of aortic aneurysms. They also perform complex surgeries like heart transplantation and implantation of ventricular assist devices (mechanical pumps that support heart function).

Thoracic surgeons focus on the lungs and esophagus. They treat lung cancer through lobectomy or pneumonectomy (removal of lung lobes or entire lung), perform surgeries for esophageal cancer, and manage conditions like pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and emphysema. They also perform thymectomy for myasthenia gravis and treat chest wall tumors.

Diagnosis relies heavily on imaging studies including chest X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and echocardiography. Cardiac catheterization and bronchoscopy are also essential diagnostic tools.

Cardiothoracic surgery requires extreme precision, often involving stopping the heart and using cardiopulmonary bypass (heart-lung machine) to maintain circulation during surgery. In recent years, minimally invasive techniques have advanced significantly, including robotic-assisted surgery and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), which reduce recovery time and surgical trauma. The goal of cardiothoracic surgery is to treat life-threatening chest and heart conditions while preserving optimal function and quality of life.