What is a Thoracic Surgery?

Introduction

Cardiac surgeries are perhaps, the most discussed term under the cloud of word surgery. But what about thoracic surgeries? How much do you know about thoracic surgery? The need for thoracic surgery can arise at any point in life, so having a basic knowledge of this invasive procedure can prove handy in the future. Also, if you are planning to undergo thoracic surgery soon, this is just the page you need to be on. Not only do we talk about different types of thoracic surgery, but we familiarize you with the surgical procedure as well. All that we ask for in return is your utmost attention till the very end.

Without any beating about the bush, let us begin! 

What is thoracic surgery?

You might be surprised to know this, but cardiac surgeries fall under the term thoracic surgery as well. Well cardiothoracic, strictly speaking. But let us define the term thoracic surgery first. Well, in simpler and understandable terms, thoracic surgery involves the surgical treatment of organs inside a person’s thorax. Just in case you skipped your anatomy lectures, thorax refers to the chest region of your body. Which organs are located in this region? Lungs, esophagus, thymus, and yes, heart. Cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery are two terms used interchangeably, commonly.

When to see a thoracic expert?

Before we jump to the types of thoracic surgery, we want to make it clear that this isn’t your everyday visit to your physician. A lot is at stake, so, you need to be one hundred percent sure about this thing. In the following lines, we are going to mention some of the reasons why you need to visit a thoracic expert. The most common reason for visiting a thoracic expert is of course an injury or accident, especially the one that results in more damage to the thorax region. Then, there are anomalies like cancer, which can necessitate a visit to a thoracic expert. But the reason for thoracic surgeries that is most under-discussed is a congenital condition that necessitates treatment of this type.

Types of thoracic surgery

This is perhaps, the most important part of this discussion. When we say types of thoracic surgery, it is how the surgery is conducted that concerns us. There are two main types of thoracic surgeries in this regard. The VATS and robotic-assisted surgery. First, let us talk a bit about VATS. VATS stands for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. In this type of thoracic surgery, a small tube is inserted between the ribs. There is a tiny camera attached to the tube, which gives the surgeon, an internal view of the chest cavity. Hence, reaching specific tissues that are damaged, without splitting the chest open becomes possible. The other type of thoracic surgery is robot-assisted surgery. A robotic surgical system is controlled by a surgeon, the robotic instruments take care of the whole surgical procedure. The surgeon’s role comes when he has to remove the damaged tissue from the thorax.

Thoracic surgery procedures list

The first step in surgical procedures like these is of course applying anesthesia. Once the patient is put under anesthesia, a breathing tube is inserted to keep the lungs inflated during the operation. The next few steps are pure of surgical nature, hence, we have decided to discuss these separately in the next section.

How is thoracic surgery done?

The first surgical step taken during a cardiothoracic surgery is incision creation. Usually, one to three incisions are made, and through this incision(s), the video camera or robotic equipment is inserted to assist the surgeon. Once the damaged tissues are removed, a draining tube is inserted into the chest for re-inflation purposes. We are afraid that the tube is going to remain there for some time before you go home! 

Thoracic surgery recovery time

The recovery times for open surgery and minimally invasive surgery are different. It is usually lesser for the latter but to recover quickly, you will have to make sure that you take good rest in both cases. The recovery process picks up speed after two to four weeks. But then again, the patient conditions vary from case to case. Hence, the actual period of recovery can be different.

How painful is it?

You don’t have to worry if you are in the hands of a competent surgeon. You will not feel a thing during the surgery, and the risks will transform into actual pain only if you are not careful post-surgery. When we say risks, we mean infections or air leakages from your lungs. Bleeding is rare and is observed in severe cases only. 

Fund a thoracic surgery at Transparent Hands!

When it comes to crowdfunding for health, there is no platform bigger than Transparent Hands in Pakistan. The range of healthcare services offered by Transparent Hands is astoundingly vast. From medical and surgical treatments to medical camps and telehealth facilities, the NGO makes sure that the underprivileged Pakistanis have access to quality healthcare services. The NGO believes in creating a patient-donor bond while making sure that the protocols of transparency aren’t breached at any point. The NGO realizes the need for free medical camps in the rural areas, hence it actively sets up such camps as well. To donate, donors can log in to the Transparent Hands crowdfunding web portal from anywhere in the world. Payment modes are one hundred percent secure. Every donor has absolute freedom in selecting and funding patients of their choice. The NGO makes sure that regular updates until complete recovery are sent to the concerned donor.

Conclusion

Well, that would be all for now folks. Of course, encompassing all the aspects of thoracic surgery in one discussion is not possible. But we do hope that you learned something, if not everything, from this discussion. And while we are at it, if you ever feel like donating for those who cannot afford a thoracic surgery on their own, you know where to donate now, don’t you?

Read more: Different Types of Eye Surgeries?