The region of the body between the neck and the abdomen is called the thorax. Thoracic Surgery deals with the diseases of organs and structures in this area that require surgical treatment.

This region includes the skin covering the area; muscles and bones (ribs or vertebrae) and the lungs and their membranes, trachea, esophagus, thymus, some vessels and nerves and the membrane of the diaphragm. Although they are in this region, surgical diseases related to the heart are treated by the heart surgery branch. Again, although they are in this region, diseases related to breast tissue are treated by the general surgery specialty, not by the thoracic surgeon.

Diseases Treated by Thoracic Surgery

  • Lung cancer
  • Lung membrane cancer (Mesothelioma)
  • Tumors of the trachea
  • Stenosis of the trachea
  • Tumors of the thymus gland
  • Advanced lung emphysema
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
  • Excessive hand sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
  • Fluid collection in the chest cavity
  • Inflammation of the lung membrane (Empyema)
  • Puncture of the lung membrane (Pneumothorax)
  • Herniation of organs adjacent to the diaphragm
  • Deformities of the chest (collapsed or protruding rib cage)
  • Chest trauma (fractures, hemorrhages or organ injuries caused by stabbing, shooting or traffic accidents or falls)

With Thoracic Surgery methods, surgical procedures are performed for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes for the diseases listed above and many other diseases.

What are the Methods for Thoracic Surgery Operations?

Some surgeries can be performed using only local anesthesia, while the patient is awake, and through incisions of a few centimeters. Some surgeries may be performed under general anesthesia (full anesthesia) and with larger incisions made on the front or side of the chest. Moreover, it is possible to perform many surgeries endoscopically (closed) through small incisions, without the need for large incisions.

There is a tendency all over the world to perform surgeries in this way. The reason for this is that after the surgery performed in this way, the patient suffers less pain and the recovery is faster. In our hospital, it is aimed to perform thoracic surgery operations in a closed way as much as possible. Depending on this aim, studies are carried out for the use of robotic surgery systems.