Thoracic Surgery

Cardiac Surgery Associates offers advanced expertise in the diagnosis and surgical treatment for the entire spectrum of non-cardiac thoracic disease. This includes benign and malignant lesions of the lungs and esophagus as well as chest wall deformities. In many cases, we can biopsy a suspicious lung nodule or enlarged lymph node in the chest using a scope (VATS/thoracoscopy and mediastinoscopy) instead of open surgery. All of our physicians participate in the weekly Thoracic Oncology Conference at University Community Hospital. This is a multidisciplinary conference in which thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists discuss challenging cases of cancer in the chest to arrive at the best treatment plan. University Community Hospital is also a designated site in several Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) research protocols. Using this integrated approach, we are able to provide the high quality medical care needed to improve survival and quality of life.

Evaluations include:

• Chest X-Rays and CT Scans
• Pulmonary Function tests
• PET scanning, if indicated
• Electrocardiogram
• Blood and urine studies

Depending on the severity of your disease, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be suggested as a complementary treatment with surgery to promote patient recovery.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation, whether prescribed as a first treatment or after surgery, is an important step to your recovery. Our pulmonary rehabilitation team provides education and support to help our patients live independently, comfortably and as actively as possible.