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Cleveland Clinic is nationally ranked for its heart care and lung surgery — and is recognized as a world leader in cardiovascular care.
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Are you feeling stressed about needing surgery inside your chest? It’s probably hard not to think about it. After all, this area protects some major organs.
The inner part of your chest (thoracic cavity or thorax) houses your heart, lungs and other important body parts. You may need thoracic surgery for a simple repair or something morecomplicated.Finding healthcare providers you trust is the first step to getting the care and support you need.
Cleveland Clinic’s cardiothoracic surgery team knows waiting for your surgery date can be tough, but we can guide you through every step. Our expert team can help answer your questions. We’ll make sure you understand what to expect in the OR and during recovery. You can count on us for the highest level of care — and the support you need to take this step.
Cleveland Clinic is nationally ranked for its heart care and lung surgery — and is recognized as a world leader in cardiovascular care.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has given Cleveland Clinic their highest rating in all adult heart surgeries, general thoracic surgery and transcatheter valve replacement. Our expertise leads to some of the best results in the industry. People from all 50 states and around the world come here for medical care. And providers nationwide refer their patients to us for thoracic surgery.
Cleveland Clinic’s thoracic surgery experts work closely with other specialists you may need to make sure you get the best possible care. Meet our team.
Whenever possible, our cardiothoracic surgeons use minimally invasive and robotic techniques that require smaller incisions (cuts), greater precision and speed recovery time.
We research and use the latest thoracic surgery techniques. This includes things like robotic bronchoscopy to identify and treat tiny lung cancers before they grow. Our clinical trials help us test new drugs, surgery techniques and treatments before they’re widely available. If you’re interested, ask your provider if you qualify for a study.
Need a quick check-in or follow-up? Our virtual visits are a great choice. You can meet online with your provider to go over your progress, ask questions and share any concerns. It’s an easy, convenient way to get care without leaving home.
Thoracic surgery most often focuses on your heart and lungs — but not always. It can also be used to treat parts of your digestive, nervous and immune systems, like:
Things can go wrong with anything inside your thoracic cavity. Some of these conditions can be treated with thoracic surgery, including:
When you’re referred to us for thoracic surgery, you’ll first come in for a pre-surgery evaluation. At this appointment, we’ll go over your medical history and talk about your symptoms. You’ll also have a physical exam, and your provider may order tests to help confirm a diagnosis.
Before surgery, your provider may order blood tests, and depending on the type of surgery, you might have:
At your pre-surgery appointment, your provider will let you know if you’ll need other tests. They’ll also walk you through what will happen in the surgery and what to expect afterward. And they’ll explain the benefits and risks.
At Cleveland Clinic, our thoracic surgery team works with providers in many different specialties based on your needs. Our cardiothoracic surgeons will lead your care team, which may also include:
After surgery, you may work with therapists who can help you recover, like:
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.
Our cardiothoracic surgeons use the latest surgery methods. Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive and robotic or video-assisted techniques. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and lobectomy (removing a section of your lung to treat cancer) are the most common thoracic surgeries. We also do many other kinds, like:
Some other heart procedures we do during thoracic surgery include:
When you have thoracic surgery to treat lung conditions, you may have:
When you need repairs in your chest wall, thoracic surgery may be the best treatment. You may need procedures like:
If you have problems with your esophagus or find it hard to swallow, you may need:
Having surgery is stressful enough. But when you need to travel for the best care, it might seem even more overwhelming. If you’re coming to Cleveland Clinic for treatment, we want to make your journey as easy and stress-free as possible. We can help with so many things. Not sure where to stay or where to grab a bite? Just ask. Feeling lost on our campus? We have the directions you need.
No matter what, we’re here for you. If you’re traveling from outside the U.S., our experienced Global Patient Services (GPS) team can help you navigate Cleveland Clinic. We’ll connect you with the healthcare providers you need. You can also count on us to schedule your appointments and provide language translation while you’re here. We’ll even coordinate follow-up care when you return home.
Recovering after any kind of thoracic surgery takes time. How long depends on the type of operation you had. You may need to stay in the hospital for a week after surgery or just a few days if your surgery was minimally invasive. But no matter what, recovering completely could take a month or more. Your provider will give you instructions on what you can and can’t do right away — like driving or lifting heavy objects.
It’s important to rest and take it easy. You’ll also want to watch for any unusual symptoms after surgery. Keep an eye out for chest pain, shortness of breath, bleeding, fever or problems with your incisions. If you notice any, you’ll want to call your provider immediately.
We know hearing the words, “you need surgery,” isn’t the news you want to get, even if it’s the right treatment for you. You may feel reassured knowing that our cardiothoracic surgeons are among the most skilled in the country, and they work with a team of other Cleveland Clinic specialists. This allows us to give you highly personalized care, from testing to thoracic surgery to recovery. We want to help you get back to moving forward in life.
Getting an appointment with Cleveland Clinic’s thoracic surgery experts is easy. We’re here to help you get the care you need.
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