thoracic & vascular surgery

Thoracic and vascular surgery are two distinct surgical specialties that focus on different areas of the body and treat different conditions.

Thoracic Surgery:

Thoracic surgery involves the surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs and structures within the thoracic cavity, which includes the chest and upper abdominal area. Thoracic surgeons primarily operate on organs such as the lungs, esophagus, trachea, mediastinum, and diaphragm.

Why it's done

Lung Cancer: Thoracic surgeons perform procedures such as lobectomy, pneumonectomy, and wedge resection to remove lung tumors and treat lung cancer.
Esophageal Disorders: Surgery may be necessary to treat conditions such as esophageal cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), achalasia, and esophageal strictures.
Mediastinal Tumors: Thoracic surgeons remove tumors or masses in the mediastinum, such as thymomas, lymphomas, and neurogenic tumors.
Chest Trauma: Thoracic surgeons repair injuries to the chest wall, lungs, diaphragm, or other thoracic structures caused by trauma.
Lung Transplantation: Thoracic surgeons perform lung transplantation for patients with end-stage lung disease.

Benefits

Improved Survival: Thoracic surgery can significantly improve survival rates for patients with conditions such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and mediastinal tumors.
Symptom Relief: Surgery can alleviate symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, and swallowing problems associated with thoracic conditions.
Disease Management: Surgical removal of tumors and diseased tissues can help manage or cure certain thoracic diseases, allowing patients to resume normal activities and enjoy a better quality of life.

Vascular Surgery:

Vascular surgery focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the blood vessels, including arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels, throughout the body.

Why it's done:

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD): Vascular surgeons treat PAD, which is caused by atherosclerosis and can lead to reduced blood flow to the limbs, causing symptoms such as leg pain, cramping, and non-healing wounds.
Aortic Aneurysms: Vascular surgeons repair or replace weakened or bulging areas of the aorta (the main artery of the body) to prevent rupture, a life-threatening complication.
Carotid Artery Disease: Surgery may be performed to remove plaque buildup from the carotid arteries to reduce the risk of stroke.
Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD): Vascular surgeons treat conditions affecting blood vessels outside the heart and brain, including those in the legs and arms.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Vascular surgeons may perform procedures to remove blood clots from veins, reducing the risk of complications such as pulmonary embolism.