Thoracic Surgery

Thoracic surgery refers to operations on the chest organs, such as the lungs, esophagus, and diaphragm. Performed by the thoracic surgery team at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cardiovascular Institute, these procedures are used to expertly treat a variety of thoracic conditions. Our specialists and thoracic surgeons provide comprehensive care for lung cancer, disorders of the esophagus, mediastinum, mesothelioma, and more.

Thoracic treatments

There are a variety of options available to treat thoracic conditions such as lung cancer, esophagus disorders, mediastinum, and mesothelioma, including cancer and reflux.

POEM and endoluminal for esophageal disorders

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an endoscopic therapy for achalasia. Endoluminal vacuum therapy is a minimally invasive therapy used on patients with esophageal perforations.

Robotic thymectomy for thymoma and myasthenia

A robotic thymectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is performed to remove the thymus by making three small incisions on one side of the patient’s chest.

Hyperhidrosis

Your physician can address abnormally excessive sweating through a surgical procedure in which a portion of the sympathetic nerve in the trunk in the thoracic region is transected.

Esophagectomy

Your physician removes a diseased, or cancerous, section of your esophagus. Then they use part of your stomach or intestine to reconstruct the esophagus.

Laparoscopic and robotic Nissen fundoplication

During this treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), your physician wraps part of your stomach around the bottom of the esophagus. The resulting pressure stops food and liquids from backing up into your esophagus.

Hiatal hernia repair

Your physician uses minimally invasive procedures, including laparoscopic and robotic, to place bulging stomach tissue back into the abdominal cavity.

Lung cancer surgery

Lung cancer surgery may be an option for some patients, depending on the type, location, and stage of the lung cancer, and other medical conditions. Lung cancer surgery is used to remove the portions of the lung that have been affected by cancer.

Robotic and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

During VATS, your doctor inserts a tiny camera called a thoracoscope into a small incision in your chest. Using the camera as a guide, your doctor inserts instruments through other small incisions in your chest to perform lung-sparing surgery. In robotic thoracic surgery, your doctor sits at a console to control the instruments used to make controlled, precise movements. Lung procedures include:

Resection

During this lung-sparing procedure, your physician removes a section of diseased lung, along with a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue.

Segmentectomy

This procedure is used to remove part of an organ or gland. It is also used to remove a tumor.

Lobectomy

Your physician removes an entire lobe from a diseased lung.

Pneumonectomy

Your physician removes the entire diseased lung.

Mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart) treatment

Pneumonectomy

Your physician surgically removes cancerous organs, such as the lung, lymph glands, and parts of your diaphragm.

Pleurectomy

Your physician removes the pleura (the lining around the lungs) and any cancerous tumors from your lungs, ribs, diaphragm, and chest wall, all while keeping those organs intact. This procedure can ease symptoms.

Video-assisted pleurodesis

Your physician inserts a catheter into your chest to drain fluid. Your surgeon may also inject medicine into your chest to prevent fluid buildup from reoccurring.

Thoracic surgery at AHN: Why choose us?

Year after year, the AHN Center for Thoracic Surgery has received a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for lung resection procedures, making it one of only 16 centers in the United States to receive this prestigious designation.

At the Cardiovascular Institute, you receive the expert medical care you need close to home. You benefit from:

Minimally invasive procedures

Our thoracic surgeons are among the region’s leading specialists in performing advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery, including robotic surgery and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Thanks to smaller incisions, you recover more quickly, experience less pain, and have a reduced risk of infection and scarring.

Dedicated team of experts

Our cardiothoracic specialists work with physicians from the AHN Esophageal Institute, as well as pulmonologists, oncologists, radiologists, and other experts to provide advanced, comprehensive care.

Personalized care

We understand that your health needs and circumstances are unique. Our team develops a customized treatment plan specific to your situation. We work diligently to ensure that you receive compassionate care that focuses on you.

Contact us

Undiagnosed or no referral

If you have not been formally diagnosed yet, call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 to see your primary care provider to explore all possible causes of your symptoms. All thoracic procedures require a referral from a provider before scheduling.

Scheduling a procedure

If you have a referral for a thoracic procedure, contact the team at the facility where you want to have the procedure completed: