Thoracic Surgery
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Most general thoracic surgeries address problems with the lungs or esophagus, such as cancer removal, reflux disorders, tumors, hernias and emphysema. Other areas treated with thoracic surgery include the chest wall and the mediastinum – the area containing the heart, which is located between the lungs. Minimally invasive, small-incision procedures often allow for the diagnosis of problems in the chest cavity's organs, tissues and bones before proceeding to more complicated surgeries.
Mediastinoscopy
Mediastinoscopy is most commonly used to detect or stage cancer. It is also ordered to detect infection, and to confirm diagnosis of certain conditions and diseases of the respiratory organs
VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery)
During a video-assisted thoracic surgery procedure, a tiny camera (thoracoscope) and surgical instruments are inserted into your chest through several small incisions. The thoracoscope transmits images of the inside of your chest onto a video monitor. Compared with a traditional open operation (thoracotomy), video-assisted thoracic surgery may result in less pain and shorten recovery time.
Thoracotomy
Thoracotomy is the process of making of an incision into the chest wall (thorax). It allows examination of the condition of the lungs; removal of a lung or part of a lung; removal of a rib; and examination, treatment, or removal of any organs in the chest cavity. Thoracotomy also provides access to the heart, esophagus, diaphragm, and the portion of the aorta that passes through the chest cavity.