The Top Doctors Specializing in THORACIC SURGERY in UT

Thoracic surgeons -- who are often grouped with cardiac, or heart, specialists for cardiothoracic surgery -- operate on the heart, lungs, esophagus, and major blood vessels inside the chest, as well as the bony structures and tissues that form and support the chest cavity.Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing one person every 36 seconds. Experts estimate that someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death for men and women. These numbers highlight the importance of cardiac care and thoracic surgery. Thoracic surgeons specialize in dealing with diseases or injuries to the structures inside your chest, including your heart, pericardium (the membrane around the heart), coronary arteries, valves, and myocardium, trachea (windpipe), esophagus (the tube leading to the stomach), lungs, pleura (membranes around the lungs), mediastinum (the area that separates the lungs and holds the heart), chest wall, and diaphragm. Thoracic surgeons oversee all aspects of related operations, managing treatment plans before, during, and after the procedure. They often build strong relationships with patients and their families, especially in emergency situations like heart attacks. Thoracic surgeons treat a variety of disorders, such as: Heart lesions, including coronary artery disease and valve disorders, Heart transplants, Lung cancer, Benign (noncancerous) lung diseases and lung tumors, Chest reconstruction, Esophageal cancer, Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD), Emphysema, Lung transplants, Mesothelioma, and Tracheal resection. Thoracic surgeons mainly treat lung cancer, lung disease, and diseases in the esophagus and chest wall. Cardiothoracic surgeons, by contrast, operate on more diseases in organs in the chest and in the chest cavity. A thoracic surgery certification requires years of education and training, including: 4-year undergraduate degree, often in pre-med , A medical degree, and a 5-year general surgery residency. Doctors then choose a thoracic surgery subspecialty, such as: Adult cardiac surgery, congenital or pediatric heart surgery, or general thoracic surgery. The length of a surgeon's residency depends on the medical school and residency program. Specialty training may last 6 to 8 years before a thoracic surgeon gets their certification. In most cases, your primary care doctor will refer you to a thoracic surgeon if you have an illness or condition that requires chest surgery. You may notice symptoms like: Chest pain that moves into your arms, shoulders, neck, and jaw, Dizziness, Heart palpitations, Frequent fainting spells, Shortness of breath, Cough, if you've been diagnosed with lung cancer, severe heartburn or acid reflux that is damaging your esophagus