Thoracic Surgery

Thoracic surgery is the specialty that deals with the surgical treatment of diseases of the lungs, trachea, pleura, mediastinum, esophagus, pericardium and chest wall. It also plays a decisive role in the treatment of the trauma of the chest and its organs, which covers the entire spectrum of surgical operations on the chest with a special emphasis on Thoracoscopy (VATS-Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery) and Robotic (RATS-Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery) Surgery with the use of the DaVinci Xi Robotic System.

Θωρακοχειρουργική

AT APOLLONION PRIVATE HOSPITAL, THE FOLLOWING SURGERIES ARE CARRIED OUT:

  • Anatomic lung resections (lobectomy, segmentectomy, pneumonectomy, wedge resection) for lung cancer. The operations are mostly carried out with thoracoscopic technique or robotics, in a minimally invasive way, avoiding thoracotomy;
  • Complex lung operations with bronchoplasty, arterioplasty, chest wall resection, when required;
  • Thoracoscopic management of recurrent pneumothorax and pleural effusions;
  • Treatment of severe emphysema when conservative treatment with lung volume reduction surgery (Lung Volume Reduction Surgery) fails, removal of giant emphysema cysts;
  • Removal of anterior, middle and posterior mediastinal tumors (thymoma, bronchogenic and pericardial cysts, teratoma and non-seminomatous tumors, neurogenic tumors). Operations involving mediastinal tumors smaller than 6-7 cm are performed with Robotic or Thoracoscopic technique;
  • Removal of chest wall tumors;
  • Treatment of chest wall deformities such as scaphoid or bird-like chest with thoracoscopic blade placement (Nuss procedure) or open method in more severe cases (Ravitch);
  • Robotic diaphragmatic plication in cases of paralysis;
  • Thoracoscopic or subxiphoid pericardial window procedure in cases of recurrent pericardial effusions;
  • Management of chest trauma of any etiology and complications (traumatic hemothorax and pneumothorax, bronchus rupture, diaphragm rupture, surgical repair of flail chest);
  • Performing a lung biopsy (thoracoscopically) in cases of interstitial lung disease, when it cannot be diagnosed by other means;
  • Mediastinoscopy for sampling/biopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes in suspected lymphoma, sarcoidosis or for lung cancer staging when biopsy by bronchoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound is not possible;
  • Surgical removal of large mediastinal or lung tumors by sternotomy or thoracotomy;
  • Surgical treatment of mesothelioma (pleurectomy/exfoliation).

The use of minimally invasive techniques in thoracic surgery has developed in leaps and bounds internationally, especially in the last decade. They contribute to a smoother postoperative course and a reduction in postoperative complications. The patient is in little pain and can be mobilized on the day of surgery, which contributes to a smoother recovery.