Cardiothoracic surgery is a branch of surgery that focuses on the heart and lungs, involving procedures that repair or replace the heart or lungs, as well as operations involving chest trauma and tumors. Cardiothoracic surgeons like Dr. Jon Kiev specialize in certain areas, such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Read on to learn how cardiothoracic surgery can treat various medical conditions.
Treat Heart Disease
Cardiothoracic surgery can treat heart disease, a condition that affects the heart and causes it to beat improperly or not at all. Cardiothoracic surgeons like Dr. Kiev are specially trained to repair damaged hearts and replace them with new ones when needed.
In addition to treating heart disease, cardiothoracic surgeons also perform operations on arteries near the lungs (pulmonary arteries) and blood vessels near other organs in your chest cavity (such as your esophagus).
Treat Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for more than 27% of all deaths from cancer in the country. Lung cancer affects men and women equally, but it’s most often diagnosed in middle-aged and older adults. By cardiothoracic surgery, this life-threatening medical condition can be treated effectively.
Repair Vascular Thoracic And Esophageal Disorders
Vascular thoracic and esophageal disorders are a group of conditions that affect the arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels in the chest. The cardiothoracic surgeon may be able to repair these vascular disorders through open-heart surgery or by using endoscopic techniques or any type of surgery performed through a small incision.
Repairing Congenital Heart Defects
Lastly, congenital heart defects are heart conditions that are present at birth and can include abnormalities of the heart valves or coronary arteries (the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart).
Cardiothoracic surgeons Dr. Jon Kiev perform many types of corrective procedures on children with congenital heart defects, including repairing holes between chambers within their hearts; inserting stents into veins that drain excess fluid from around their lungs, and placing pacemakers inside their chests to regulate their heartbeat.