Specialized thoracic surgeons
treat lung and esophageal cancer
, while specialized cardiac surgeons treat the heart. Thoracic surgery, also known as chest surgery, may be used to diagnose or repair lungs affected by cancer, trauma or pulmonary disease.
When should you see a thoracic surgeon?
In most cases, people see a thoracic surgeon when their primary care doctor or
other doctor finds or suspects a problem that requires chest surgery
, such as heart disease, lung cancer, or swallowing problems in the esophagus.
What is the difference between a cardiac surgeon and a thoracic surgeon?
A cardiac or cardiovascular surgeon will usually focus on
the heart and great vessels
, while general thoracic surgeons often treat diseases of the lungs, esophagus, chest wall, and mediastinum.
How long is thoracic surgery?
Surgery can last
six to eight hours
. After surgery, Dr. Benharash sees both pre-operative and post-operative patients.
What does a thoracic surgeon specialize in?
Thoracic surgeons treat
diseased or injured organs in the chest
, including the esophagus (muscular tube that passes food to the stomach), trachea (windpipe), pleura (membranes that cover and protect the lung), mediastinum (area separating the left and right lungs that contains the heart), chest wall, diaphragm ( …
How painful is thoracic surgery?
Neuropathic pain after thoracic surgery, known as post-thoracotomy pain, is
common and sometimes severe
. The pain often becomes chronic and is associated with symptoms including burning, shooting, shocking, pressure-like, and aching sensations (1).
Why would I need to see a thoracic surgeon?
Thoracic surgery, also known as chest surgery, may be
used to diagnose or repair lungs affected by cancer, trauma or pulmonary disease
. For lung cancer, your surgeon may remove nodules, tumors and lymph nodes to diagnose, stage and treat the disease.
How is thoracic surgery done?
During thoracotomy surgery,
an incision is made on the side of the chest between the ribs
. The ribs are then spread apart so the surgeon can see into the chest cavity to remove the tumor or affected tissue. Cleveland Clinic surgeons routinely perform lobectomy using a minimally invasive approach.
What questions should I ask a thoracic surgeon?
- Will you explain the surgery in simple terms?
- What should I do to prepare?
- How long will the surgery take? …
- How long will I have to remain in the hospital?
- How much of my lungs do you anticipate will need to be removed?
- What are the risks and benefits of this surgery?
What is thoracic disease?
Thoracic disorders are
conditions of the heart, lungs, mediastinum, esophagus, chest wall, diaphragm and great vessels
and may include: Achalasia. Barrett’s esophagus. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
What is the richest type of doctor?
- Neurosurgery — $746,544.
- Thoracic surgery — $668,350.
- Orthopedic surgery — $605,330.
- Plastic surgery — $539,208.
- Oral and maxillofacial — $538,590.
- Vascular surgery — $534,508.
- Cardiology — $527,231.
- Radiation oncology — $516,016.
What is the highest paid surgeon?
The highest-paid physician specialties
Specialists
in plastic surgery
earned the highest physician salary in 2020 — an average of $526,000. Orthopedics/orthopedic surgery is the next-highest specialty ($511,000 annually), followed by cardiology at $459,000 annually.
What kind of doctor is a thoracic surgeon?
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.
What is the recovery time after thoracic surgery?
It is common to feel tired for
6 to 8 weeks
after surgery. Your chest may hurt and be swollen for up to 6 weeks. It may ache or feel stiff for up to 3 months. You may also feel tightness, itching, numbness, or tingling around the incision for up to 3 months.
Do they break ribs for lung surgery?
Your surgeon will make a surgical cut between two ribs
. The cut will go from the front of your chest wall to your back, passing just underneath the armpit. These ribs will be separated or a rib may be removed. Your lung on this side will be deflated so that air will not move in and out of it during surgery.
How long does it take to heal from lung surgery?
Normal recovery time
Expect to stay in the hospital for 2 to 7 days after lung cancer surgery. The hospital stay for open surgery is longer than it is for VATS. Lung cancer surgery is a big operation. Once you’re home from the hospital, it can take anywhere from
a few weeks to a few months
for you to fully recover.
