Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in surgical treatment of
diseases affecting organs inside the thorax (the chest). Generally treatment of
conditions of the heart (heart disease) and lungs (lung disease).
Cardiac
surgery and thoracic surgery are separate surgical specialties, but are
frequently grouped together as cardiothoracic surgery (primarily in the United
States). Cardiac surgery generally refers to surgery of the heart and great vessels,
and thoracic surgery generally refers to surgery of the chest other than
the heart. A cardiothoracic surgeon will perform surgery within the realm of both
cardiac and thoracic surgery. |
