Thoracic Surgery

The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UIC offers a number of programs in general thoracic surgery. The principal focus is on surgery within the chest for cancer of the lung, mediastinum, trachea, esophagus, diaphragm, and chest wall. A wide variety of procedures is available and are tailored to meet the needs of patients with thoracic malignancy. Primary resection therapy of the lung, esophagus, and mediastinum is accomplished as part of ongoing cooperative initiatives with the oncology program at the university. Palliative procedures include esophageal and airway stenting and laser photoablation. Many diagnostic procedures are now accomplished in an outpatient setting. Recent advances in the use of epidural anesthesia, limited incisions and a hospital thoracic care path have markedly reduced lengths of stay and postoperative discomfort for our patients.

Minimally invasive surgery is available for both benign and malignant diseases and affords patients the opportunity to take advantage of smaller, less painful incisions and rapid recovery times. These techniques can be applied to pleural biopsies, small lung resections and biopsies, cancer staging and mediastinal operations, as well as lung volume reduction.

Foci of particular interest to the division include the diagnosis and treatment of pleuropulmonary infection, especially the care of patients with complicated tuberculosis and other unusual infections,  the sequelae of thoracic trauma, and treatment of thoracic diseases in immunocompromised patients.