Surgical Services

The Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery at University Hospitals has a dedicated team of expert surgeons, nurse practitioners, fellows and residents – all trained in the latest therapies available – to ensure your patients receive unparalleled compassionate care.

Specialty surgical services include:

Mediastinum

• Conditions: Tumors, thymoma, cysts, myasthenia gravis, adenopathy
• Specialized Therapies: Minimally invasive nodal biopsy and dissection, minimally invasive pericardial cyst and bronchogenic cyst resection, minimally invasive and transternal thymectomy

Esophagus

• Conditions: Achalasia, strictures, esophageal cancer, benign esophageal tumors (leiomyoma), esophageal diverticulum, hiatal hernia, reflux
• Specialized Therapies: Minimally invasive esophagectomy, laparoscopic heller myotomy with fundoplication, laparoscopic fundoplication, transthoracic myotomy and antireflux operations, dilation, laser and stenting of the esophagus

Diaphragm

• Conditions: Treatment of paralyzed or injured diaphragm, diaphragmatic hernia
• Specialized Therapies: Laparoscopic and transthoracic repair of hiatal and diaphragmatic hernia, minimally invasive plication

Lungs

• Conditions: Lung nodules and cancer, emphysema
• Specialized Therapies: Minimally invasive lobectomy, segmental resections and biopsies, pneumonectomy and sleeve reconstruction, minimally invasive lymph node dissections, stereotactic body radiation for inoperable lung cancers, navigation bronchoscopy for lung biopsy, minimally invasive lung volume reduction for severe emphysema

Trachea

• Conditions: Tumors and strictures
• Specialized Therapies: Tracheal resection and reconstruction, laser and stenting of  trachea, brachytherapy

Pleural space

• Conditions: Pleural fluid, mesothelioma, tumors
• Specialized Therapies: Thoracoscopy and pleurodesis and use of Pleur-X catheter, extrapleural pneumonectomy and radical pleurectomy for mesothelioma

Pericardium

• Conditions: Treatment of pericardial effusions
• Specialized Therapies: Minimally invasive pericardial window and subxyphoid pericardial window

Chest Walls/Ribs

• Conditions: Tumors, deformities, trauma, pectus excavatum and rib fractures
• Specialized Therapies: Advanced reconstruction of chest wall trauma, multiple rib fixation, tumor resection with chest wall reconstruction, first rib resection for thoracic outlet syndrome

Other

• Conditions: Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating of the palms or feet), thoracic outlet syndrome
• Specialized Therapies: Minimally invasive sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis