Thoracic surgery is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases affecting the organs of the chest. It includes surgical interventions on the lungs, bronchi, trachea, esophagus, diaphragm and other structures.
What thoracic surgeons treat
One of the main areas of activity of thoracic surgeons is oncological diseases. This is the surgical treatment of lung cancer, mediastinal tumors, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, and metastases of tumors of other organs to the lungs. Thoracic surgeons also work with patients with various benign neoplasms.
Among the pathologies that are successfully treated in the thoracic surgery department are:
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pathological changes of the pleura, including pleural effusions and pleural tumors;
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diffuse and disseminated lung diseases;
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emphysema of the lungs, characterized by damage to the alveolar walls;
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localized bronchiectasis, which is the expansion and deformation of the bronchi with the formation of cavities;
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congenital lung pathologies such as cysts, sequestration, hypoplasia, and other developmental abnormalities;
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tuberculosis affecting lung tissue;
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diseases of the mediastinum, including tumors, cysts and other pathologies of this area;
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purulent diseases such as empyema (purulent inflammation of the pleura), lung abscess;
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pulmonary alveolar proteinosis;
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diseases of the trachea and bronchi, including stenoses, tumors and other pathologies;
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esophageal-bronchial fistulas
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chronic chest pain, pulmonary hemorrhage, stridor, and other symptoms that require specialized intervention.
Thoracic surgeons also work with various chest injuries, such as rib fractures. Operations can be performed either as planned or as an emergency.
When to see a doctor
Diseases of the thoracic profile are very diverse. Most often, patients first turn to specialists in another field, for example, therapists, pulmonologists or gastroenterologists. If the doctor believes that surgical treatment is necessary, he continues to work with the surgeon.
However, it is important to be aware of situations in which you need to visit a thoracic surgeon yourself. Here are some of them:
- Oncological diseases. Cancer of the lungs, mediastinum, or other tumors of the thoracic cavity.
- Pneumothorax. Shortness of breath, chest pain, shortness of breath, cough.
- Lung diseases. Purulent inflammations, tumors, bronchiectasis or emphysema.
- Traumatic chest injuries.
Consultation is necessary if there is a diagnosis requiring surgical treatment, as well as if acute unpleasant symptoms occur in the chest area. In some cases, especially those related to cancer or serious injuries, urgent treatment by a specialist is required.
How thoracic surgery is performed
Thoracic surgeons use all types of surgical procedures in their work: open, minimally invasive using modern video thoracoscopic equipment, as well as robot-assisted. In the EMC clinic, preference is given to minimally invasive techniques that ensure a quick recovery period and minimal complications. Such methods do not injure the muscles, blood vessels, and nerves of the chest wall, as in open surgeries.
Thoracoscopic operations are performed using thin instruments that the surgeon manipulates through small incisions. A flexible endoscope with a video camera is inserted through the chest wall, transmitting an enlarged image to the monitor. The specialist can adjust the clarity and scale of the image, thereby achieving increased revision accuracy during the intervention. The Department of Thoracic Surgery at the EMC Clinic uses high-quality equipment from leading manufacturers: Olympus optical systems and Covidien and Delacroix-Chevalier instruments.
The most advanced treatment method is a robot–assisted intervention. The operation is performed by thoracoscopic access using the da Vinci robotic surgical complex. Due to the high precision of the manipulations, such interventions have the lowest level of injury for the patient. In the EMC surgical department, robot-assisted surgeries are used to treat the following diseases:
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lung cancer;
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tumors of the lungs, pleura, pericardium, mediastinum, thorax, thymoma;
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bronchiectatic disease (bronchiectasis);
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tumor, cicatricial stenosis of the trachea or bronchi;
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esophagotracheal fistulas;
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parasitic lesions;
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malformations of the lungs, mediastinal organs;
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cyst of the mediastinum, lung;
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lung sequestration;
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cystic hypoplasia of the lung.
Robot-assisted surgeries are advanced technologies that allow for effective treatment with the least impact on the patient and a shorter rehabilitation period.
Department of Thoracic Surgery at the EMC Clinic
At the EMC clinic, operations are performed by Evgeny Tarabrin, the chief freelance thoracic surgeon in Moscow. In addition, all doctors have completed training and internships in leading thoracoscopic and robot-assisted surgery clinics in France and Belgium.
The Department of Thoracic Surgery at the EMC offers a full range of medical services, including intensive care units and intensive care units. The hospital provides comfortable conditions for stay, and meals are provided according to an individual menu, taking into account medical recommendations. We also welcome round-the-clock visits to patients by relatives, including the intensive care unit. If you need advice or treatment from a thoracic surgeon, make an appointment and receive qualified medical care.
List of sources and references
Shevchenko Yu. L., Ablitsov Yu. A., Vetshev P. S., Kashevarov S. B., Vasilashko V. I., Ablitsov A. Yu., Orlov S. S., Travin N. O. Video technologies in thoracic surgery // Almanac of Clinical Medicine. 2007. №16. Video technologies in thoracic surgery
- Mazurin B. C., Ghukasyan E. A., Prishchepo M. I. Yesterday, today, tomorrow departments of thoracic surgery // Almanac of Clinical Medicine. 2003. №6. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow departments of thoracic surgery
- Shamji FM, Waddell K, Beauchamp G. The History and Evolution of Surgical Instruments in Thoracic Surgery. Thorac Surg Clin. 2021 Nov;31(4):449-461. doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2021.06.002. PMID: 34696857.
- Litle VR. Ever-Evolving Thoracic Surgery: Chest Is Best. Thorac Surg Clin. 2023 Feb;33(1):XI-XII. doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2022.10.001. PMID: 36372539.
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