Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery is a specialized surgical field that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the heart, lungs, and other organs within the thoracic cavity. This discipline encompasses various surgeries, including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve repair and replacement, heart transplant, and procedures for lung diseases such as lobectomy and pneumonectomy. Cardiothoracic surgeons undergo extensive training, typically completing a general surgery residency followed by a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship, equipping them with the necessary skills to perform complex procedures that often require advanced techniques and technologies. The field emphasizes both open and minimally invasive surgical approaches, allowing surgeons to tailor their strategies to the patient's specific needs, which can result in quicker recovery times and less postoperative pain. Moreover, cardiothoracic surgery plays a crucial role in addressing life-threatening conditions, improving patients' quality of life, and enhancing longevity.
Common surgeries in cardiothoracic surgery include:
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) to improve blood flow to the heart
- Heart Transplant to replace a diseased heart with a healthy one
- Lung Transplant to replace a diseased lung with a healthy one
- Valve Repair or Replacement to fix or replace damaged heart valves
- Aortic Aneurysm Repair to fix a weakened or bulging aorta
- Maze Procedure to treat atrial fibrillation
- Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair to fix a weakened or bulging thoracic aorta
- Esophagectomy to remove part of the esophagus, often due to cancer
- Lobectomy to remove a lobe of the lung, often due to cancer
- Pneumonectomy to remove an entire lung, often due to cancer or injury.
