Your heart and lungs need expert care
Cardiothoracic surgeons specialize in treating many conditions that affect the organs in your chest, including your heart, lungs, esophagus and diaphragm. Cardiothoracic surgery may be the solution you need if you have a complex condition affecting any of these organs, or the blood vessels around them.
Some cardiothoracic surgeons further specialize in particular areas. Depending on your diagnosis, you might see a:
- Cardiac surgeon, who focuses on adult heart diseases.
- Congenital heart surgeon, who treats heart defects that occur before birth.
- Thoracic surgeon, who specializes in lung, pulmonary and esophageal diseases.
You will have access to a team of surgeons throughout North and Central Texas. They’ll choose the right procedure for you, keeping your well-being and long-term health in mind.
Conditions we treat using cardiothoracic surgery
-
Heart conditions
Heart conditions
- Arrhythmias (heart rhythm disorders)
- Cardiopatía congénita
- Enfermedad de la arteria coronaria
- Insuficiencia cardiaca
- Heart valve disorders, such as aortic stenosis
- Major chest artery problems like aneurysms or tears
-
Condiciones esofágicas
Condiciones esofágicas
- Cáncer de esófago
- Estenosis esofágica
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD
- Hernias de hiato
- Swallowing disorders, such as achalasia
- Zenker’s and epiphrenic diverticulum
-
Pulmonary and lung diseases
Pulmonary and lung diseases
- La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC)
- Enfisema
- Cáncer de pulmón
- Insuficiencia pulmonar
- Nódulos pulmonares
- Mediastinal conditions, such as tumors and cysts
- Miastenia gravis
- Mesothelioma
- Tumor de Pancoast (surco superior)
- Cáncer traqueal
- Estenosis traqueal
- Chest wall cancers
- Deformidades del pectus
- Síndrome de la salida torácica
Heart conditions
- Arrhythmias (heart rhythm disorders)
- Cardiopatía congénita
- Enfermedad de la arteria coronaria
- Insuficiencia cardiaca
- Heart valve disorders, such as aortic stenosis
- Major chest artery problems like aneurysms or tears
Condiciones esofágicas
- Cáncer de esófago
- Estenosis esofágica
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD
- Hernias de hiato
- Swallowing disorders, such as achalasia
- Zenker’s and epiphrenic diverticulum
Pulmonary and lung diseases
- La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC)
- Enfisema
- Cáncer de pulmón
- Insuficiencia pulmonar
- Nódulos pulmonares
- Mediastinal conditions, such as tumors and cysts
- Miastenia gravis
- Mesothelioma
- Tumor de Pancoast (surco superior)
- Cáncer traqueal
- Estenosis traqueal
- Chest wall cancers
- Deformidades del pectus
- Síndrome de la salida torácica
Cardiothoracic surgery options
Cardiothoracic surgery comes in many forms. The type you need will depend on your diagnosis and the severity of your disease.
At Baylor Scott & White, you have access to a variety of procedures, including:
- Cirugía cardíaca congénita en adultos
- Coronary artery bypass graft, or heart bypass surgery
- Heart transplants
- Heart valve surgeries, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement to treat aortic valve disease
- Lung transplants
- Radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation, lung cancer and other conditions
- Surgery to remove lung and esophageal tumors
- Ventricular assist device implantation
How cardiothoracic surgery benefits you
Your cardiologist or pulmonologist may recommend surgical treatment when other options, such as lifestyle changes, medications and noninvasive procedures, are no longer successful. Any surgery aims to help you live the most fulfilling life possible by improving your condition or managing its side effects.
You may have the option of a minimally invasive or robotic surgical procedure. These surgeries use smaller incisions than traditional open procedures and, as a result, often lead to:
- Recuperación más rápida
- Less time in the hospital
- Less pain after surgery
What to expect before and after cardiothoracic surgery
From the moment you schedule your surgery to the days, weeks and months afterward, you’ll have support from a team of dedicated providers who want to ensure your surgery is as successful as possible.
In addition to your cardiothoracic surgeon, your surgical team may include:
- Anesthesiologists, who monitor you during and after surgery
- Nurse navigators, to help you prepare for your surgery and access the services you need
- Physician assistants, nurses and nurse practitioners
- Radiologists, who may need to perform presurgical imaging tests
- Social workers, who can help arrange support services before surgery and as you recover
- Your referring provider (a cardiologist or pulmonologist)
During your recovery in the hospital, your doctors and nurses will monitor you closely for complications and ensure your safety and comfort.
When you schedule your procedure, you’ll receive instructions for what to do after surgery and information to help you prepare your home for recovery. When you leave the hospital, you will have a good sense of what the days and weeks to come will look like.
Your recovery plan may include cardiac rehabilitation, a medically supervised program designed to help you recover from your procedure and adopt a healthy lifestyle to protect your heart for the long term. If you had a lung procedure, pulmonary rehabilitation will do the same for your lungs.