At the Emirates Specialty Hospital, our thoracic surgery team works on the organs of the thorax (upper and middle of the back), which usually means treatment of the chest and lungs (excluding the heart).
Patients see our thoracic specialists concerning anything between the neck and diaphragm; including the trachea, pleura and mediastinum. Our doctors can treat cancers that line the lungs (mesothelioma) and cancer that originates from another place (lung metastases).
Thoracic Surgery
As well as lung cancer, Emirates Specialty Hospital treats esophageal cancer – cancer of the food pipe, which passes from the pharynx and connects the lungs to the stomach.
Additionally, our experts care for patients with pneumonia, emphysema, blunt chest trauma, and reflux esophagitis, among other conditions. It encompasses pneumothorax (where the lung collapses due to air), empyema (collapse because of infection) and pleural effusion (where fluid results in a collapse of the lungs).
Goiters (abnormally big thyroid glands) come as a result of swelling, nodules or growth on the gland causing it to be overactive, underactive or show no symptoms of a problem at all. However, as it’s located in the front of the trachea, it can cause the neck to visibly swell over time if left untreated.
Symptoms include severe coughs or coughs bringing up blood, chest pain, chest infection or shortness of breath. Symptoms to be concerned about might even include fever or weight loss alongside other changes. Patients may also complain about heartburn and regurgitation in conjunction with these issues.
Doctors can look into the matter closely using scans, X-rays and minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic surgery. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract radiography may also be used in collaboration with thoracic surgery.
At the Emirates Specialty Hospital, our team perform large thyroid & tracheal esophageal surgery to eliminate the source of compression. Lung transplantations and endotracheal intubation (placing a tube to assist breathing) are also available.
The thoracic surgeon may operate via an incision near the breast bone (sternotomy) or the side of the chest (thoracotomy). Surgery may be assisted by video technology using a bronchoscope or mediastinoscope.
After-care is very important to our doctors at Emirates Specialty Hospital and patients will be advised on the correct methods to follow once they’ve had treatment. This includes which medication to take, how to look after wounds, what you can and can’t do immediately after surgery, plus what feelings are normal and what to be concerned about after operations.
What is thoracic surgery?
Thoracic surgery is the science related to the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases of the organs in the thorax, such as the lungs, ribs, diaphragm, esophagus in the thoracic cavity. The heart and major vessels in the rib cage are not within the field of thoracic surgery. In addition, breast surgery is outside the scope of thoracic surgery. Some of the diseases that fall into the field of thoracic surgery are as follows: congenital disorders related to the rib cage, lung diseases and tumors, esophagus diseases, diaphragm-related surgical diseases, respiratory obstruction and diseases. These types of diseases are diagnosed by thoracic surgeons and treated and followed up.
Diseases of interest in thoracic surgery
- Lung cancer
- Pleura cancer (Mesothelioma)
- Pleura inflammation (Empyema)
- Pleura rupture (Pneumothorax)
- Chest wall repair
- Trachea tumors
- Trachea narrowing
- Thymus gland tumors
- Tuberculosis surgery
- Chest wall tumors
- Diaphragmatic surgery
- Lung puncture
- Chest injuries such as stabbing, bulleting, injury
How is thoracic surgery performed?
Thoracic surgery operations can be done in three ways. The method of performing the operations varies depending on the disease and the patient’s condition. Some surgeries can be done by local anesthesia by opening small cuts without the patient being put to sleep. Such operations take less time, and the patient will recover faster. Some surgeries are performed under general anesthesia with the patient asleep. These surgeries open large cuts in the chest area and the operation is performed in this way. In addition, many surgeries are now performed as closed (endoscopic) with the reflection of the developments in technology in the surgery. In such surgeries, it is possible to perform the operation with very small cuts. Endoscopic surgeries are more accepted and preferred today. After such operations, patients will recover faster and not suffer. Therefore, it is preferred by both patients and doctors.
Recently, robotic surgery has started to be used in thoracic surgery. Robotic surgery is performed by specially trained doctors. Surgery is performed while a surgeon is in the robot console and the other surgeon is with the patient. Robotic surgery minimizes the complications arising from open and closed operations.
