Thoracic Surgery
When you need thoracic surgery, you want to get care from a world-class team dedicated to your health and well-being.
Depend on UC San Diego Health's thoracic surgeons, who provide advanced and innovative surgical care to patients from around the world.
We're experienced in the latest techniques to treat injuries and diseases in the chest cavity and ensure the best outcomes for the patient. In addition to performing open surgery, we also use minimally invasive techniques such as robotic-assisted surgery and video-assisted surgery.
What Is Thoracic Surgery?
Thoracic surgery refers to surgery in the thorax or chest region of the body, including the lungs, esophagus (food pipe), trachea (windpipe), chest wall (ribs, breastbone and the muscles around them), diaphragm and the mediastinum (the area between the lungs).
Thoracic surgeons specialize in diseases or injuries to the structures inside your chest. Cardiac (heart) surgeons and thoracic (lung) surgeons have different areas of expertise. Our lung surgeons are highly skilled in treating a broad spectrum of conditions in the chest and lungs.
Comprehensive, Expert Care
Thoracic surgery can save or extend your life if you're having a serious problem with your lungs or in your chest cavity.
Our thoracic surgeons collaborate with colleagues in other specialties — including pulmonology, gastroenterology, neurosurgery, oncology, radiology and organ transplants — to provide personalized services available only at the nation's top health systems. We have a protocol before, during and after chest surgery that's intended to decrease complications and improve results.
Your medical care includes state-of-the-art diagnosis, physical exams, imaging, blood labs and other tests, as needed. We'll work with you to develop a comprehensive plan to restore your health.
Conditions We Treat
- Collapsed lung
- End-stage lung disease
- Emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)
- Hyperhidrosis and Raynaud's disease
- Lung cancer
- Pulmonary embolism
- Schwannomas and mediastinal tumors in the chest
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Thymus tumors and Myasthenia gravis
Surgeries We Perform
- Lung resection
- Thoracic sympathectomy (endoscopic)
- Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS)
- Lung transplantation, including single lung transplant, double lung transplant and heart-lung transplant
- Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), a minimally invasive procedure
- Robotic thymectomy
- Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE)
Research and Clinical Trials
Clinical trials offer people the chance to receive newly developed therapies and provide crucial information for improving care. Our thoracic surgeons are conducting clinical trials to treat lung diseases and conditions. Find clinical trials at UC San Diego Health currently seeking participants.