Thoracic Surgery Treatments

What is Thoracic Surgery?

Thoracic surgery is the branch of medicine that deals with the surgery of organs and tissues other than the heart and great vessels located inside the chest. Thoracic surgery deals with the treatment of diseases that occur in structures such as the lungs and the ribs and chest wall located around the lungs, as well as the pleura, mediastinum, esophagus and diaphragm.

Approximately 80% of the surgeries performed within the scope of thoracic surgery are cancer types. Lung cancer, tumors located in the chest wall, esophageal cancer and thymoma mediastinal masses are among the cancer types operated by thoracic surgery. Surgical procedures performed for the treatment of various diseases other than cancer are also performed by thoracic surgery.

Thymus gland removal surgery (thymectomy) in Myasthenia Gravis disease, Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS) surgery in case of hyperhidrosis, i.e. excessive sweating of the palms, removal of the first rib in thoracic outlet syndrome and myotomy surgeries in achalasia are also performed by thoracic surgery specialists. Today, a thin camera and high-resolution cameras are used during thoracic surgery. The surgery is performed through small incisions made in the body.

What are Thoracic Surgery Treatments?

Within the scope of thoracic surgery, diseases that concern other organs and tissues other than the heart and large vessels in the chest cavity are treated. It is important to approach these diseases with a multidisciplinary perspective. In the thoracic surgery department, which works in coordination with the relevant branches, advanced technology and fully equipped devices are used during the treatment phase.

Open surgery is preferred for large surgeries that cannot be performed with closed methods. Surgery of the relevant organs is performed by making incisions in the skin and subcutaneous tissues.

Closed surgery is performed in the thoracoscopic surgery method, which uses current technologies. The tissues inside the body are viewed with a camera system. In this minimally invasive surgery method, a smaller surgical scar is left compared to open surgery and the risk of developing complications is lower. Post-operative pain is less and the hospital stay is shorter.

A camera system is also used in robotic surgery procedures. Robotic devices are used to eliminate risk factors such as hand tremors. The mobility of this method is much higher than that of the human hand.

How Are Thoracic Surgery Treatments Applied?

Many special procedures and examinations are applied within the scope of thoracic surgery treatments. During these procedures and examinations, there is usually a coordinated work with other branches. Some of the procedures and examinations performed can be listed as follows:

Bronchoscopy

In this technique, the lungs and respiratory tracts are evaluated with a camera. A thin tube with a camera at its end, inserted through the nose or mouth, is advanced to the respiratory tract and the lung structures are examined from the inside. If deemed necessary, it is also possible to take mucus or tissue samples through bronchoscopy.

EBUS (Endobronchial Ultrasonography)

This diagnostic method also has a camera system similar to bronchoscopy. With the presence of an ultrasound probe along with the camera, it is possible to closely evaluate the lungs and surrounding lymph nodes. The procedure is performed in the same way by advancing the tube from the mouth or nose to the respiratory tract.

Pleural Biopsy

The double-layered membrane surrounding the lungs is called the pleura. By taking a sample of the pleural tissue with a needle or during surgery, the tissue sample is examined for problems such as cancer and infection.

Videothoracoscopic Surgery

Thanks to videothoracoscopic surgery, surgery can be performed on the body without the need for open surgery and large incisions. After small incisions are made, the structures inside the body are viewed with the help of a camera and the surgery is performed.

Robotic Surgery

In robotic surgery, where a camera system is used, robotic devices are used to eliminate risk factors such as hand tremors. It is an extremely advantageous method because its mobility is much higher than the human hand.

What Diseases Does Thoracic Surgery Treat?

Congenital diseases of the lungs such as sequestrations, atresia, bronchogenic cysts
Lung cancer, cancer surgery
Pneumothorax (collapse of the lung due to bullae)
Lung perforation
Volume reduction surgery in the lung (Volume Reduction Surgery)
Mesothelioma (Lung membrane cancers)
Empyema (Lung membrane inflammation)
Fluid accumulation in the chest cavity
Bronchiectasis (Lung infections)
Hydatid cysts, etc. Lung cysts
Systemic diseases of the lung (Sarcoidosis, etc.)
Metastatic tumors of the lung (Tumors of organs such as colon, liver, kidney, brain)
Lung hemorrhages (Hemoptysis)
Lung injuries and traumatic pneumothorax (Blunt or penetrating)
Esophagus injuries
Esophagus diverticulum
Congenital diseases of the esophagus
Esophageal cancers
Esophageal hernias (Esophageal hernias)
Thymus enlargements
Mediastinal tumors (Congenital tumors and acquired tumors)
Tumors of thymus origin (Thymoma)
Thymus surgery due to myasthenia gratis
Mediastinal cysts
Mediastinitis
Congenital anomalies of the mediastinum
Tumors of the esophagus
Trageotomy injuries
Tracheotomy repair after tracheostomy
Foreign body aspiration into the trachea
Tracheal surgery and tracheal stents
Chest wall deformity repairs (Deformities – Excavatum, Carinatum)
Tumors of the esophagus
Arcus deformities of the esophagus
Rich cage injuries
Unilateral or bilateral diaphragm paralysis
Diaphragm surgery
Diaphragm pacemaker insertion
Diaphragm hernias
Diaphragm tumors
Excessive sweating (ETS)
Tuberculosis surgery
Torque region trauma surgery