The Patient Guide to Heart, Lung, and

Esophageal Surgery
A Website Presented by Cardiothoracic Surgeons Committed to Improving Patient Care

What Is a
Cardiothoracic
Surgeon?
A cardiothoracic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes
in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and
other organs in the chest. This includes surgeons who can be
called cardiac surgeons, cardiovascular surgeons, general
thoracic surgeons, and congenital heart surgeons.
 A group of Cardiothoracic Surgeons in the operating room at St. Louis University in Missouri

WHAT IS A CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON

Cardiothoracic surgeons will graduate from medical school and go on to complete either a 5-year general
surgery residency followed by a 2- or 3-year cardiothoracic surgery residency program, or enter into a 6-year
integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency.

Some cardiothoracic surgeons choose to do additional training in a subspecialized area but this training is
optional with the exception of congenital heart surgery, which requires completion of a 1-year fellowship.

Learn more about cardiothoracic surgeons from Vinod Thourani, MD, Douglas E. Wood, MD, Lauren C. Kane, MD,
and Robert S.D. Higgins, MD, MSHA.

DISEASES CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS TREAT

Cardiothoracic surgeons operate on diseases that occur in the organs inside the chest and in the bony structures
and tissues that form the chest cavity.

Coronary artery disease is one of the most common diseases treated by cardiothoracic surgeons.

General thoracic surgeons treat primarily lung cancer and diseases of the esophagus and chest wall.

Congenital heart surgeons care for babies and children with holes between the heart chambers or abnormal
connections within the heart.

Listed below are some examples of diseases treated by cardiothoracic surgeons.

A cardiac or cardiovascular surgeon could treat:

Coronary artery disease or blockages of the arteries in the heart

Blockages in the heart valve(s)
Leaking heart valve(s)
Abnormal enlargement or aneurysms of the large arteries in the chest
Heart failure
Atrial fibrillation

A general thoracic surgeon could treat:

Lung cancer
Severe emphysema
Esophageal cancer
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Hiatal hernias
Swallowing disorders such as achalasia

A congenital heart surgeon could treat:

Atrial septal defects

Ventricular septal defects
Coarctation of the aorta
Hypoplastic left or right heart syndrome
Transposition of the great arteries

Your primary care physician, cardiologist,

pulmonologist, or gastroenterologist may send you
to a cardiothoracic surgeon if he/she feels that you
could benefit from specialized treatment.

HOW A THORACIC SURGEON DIFFERS FROM A CARDIOLOGIST OR PULMONOLOGIST

A cardiologist will primarily diagnose disorders of the heart and treat them with medication. Cardiologists also
perform interventions on the arteries in the heart working through puncture wounds in the groin, but they do
not perform open surgery.

A pulmonologist will diagnose disorders of the lung and treat them with medication. Some pulmonologists will
perform interventions through the airway but do not perform open surgery.
Cardiothoracic surgeons who have completed
approved residency training, hold a full and
unrestricted license to practice medicine in the
United States, and maintain an ethical standing in
the profession are eligible for board certification.

ROLE ON THE HEALTHCARE TEAM

All cardiothoracic surgeons have the same general training and are certified by the same specialty board, except
for congenital heart surgeons who have a sub-specialty certificate in addition to the American Board of Thoracic
Surgery (ABTS) certification.

Cardiothoracic Surgeons play an important role on the healthcare team. Watch Todd K. Rosengart, MD, Ram
Kumar Subramanyan, MD, PhD, Leah M. Backus, MD, Jeffrey B. Rich, MD, Robbin G. Cohen, MD, MMM, and
Jeffrey P. Jacobs, MD describe what cardiothoracic surgeons do, the team approach to surgical care, and how
they make a difference for their patients.

The STS mission is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient
care through education, research, and advocacy.

The Patient Guide to Heart, Lung, and Esophageal Surgery

A WEBSITE PRESENTED BY CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING PATIENT CARE

Copyright 20152017. All rights reserved.