What is thoracic and cardiovascular surgery?
Thoracic and cardiovascular surgery is a surgical specialty that deals with the heart (cardiac surgery), on the one hand, and the thorax and vessels (thoracic and vascular surgery), on the other, in adults and children. Generally speaking, physicians specialise either in cardiac surgery or in thoracic and vascular surgery.
What does a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon do?
In accordance with their speciality and along with their team, a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon performs operations to treat disorders of the thorax (emphysema, pleural infections, cancerous tumours of the lungs, mediastinal lesions, oesophageal tumours, lung transplants, etc.) and conditions affecting the circulatory system and heart (coronary bypass surgery, aortic dissection, heart disorders, circulatory support, congenital heart diseases in children, etc.).
When to see a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
Except in emergency cases, the patient’s GP or other specialist previously consulted (cardiologist, pulmonologist, radiologist, oncologist, etc.) will refer the patient to a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon.
What are the risks of surgery?
Any operation entails risks associated with anaesthesia, the surgical procedure itself (bleeding, complications, etc.) and the side effects of the operation (infection, pain, etc.). These risks are discussed during the preoperative consultation with the surgeon and/or anaesthesiologist.