Thoracic Surgery in Tampa, FL
Thoracic Surgery encompasses treatment of conditions affecting your lung or chest. Two of our Suncoast Surgical surgeons are board certified thoracic surgeons and are skilled in the latest surgical procedures for treating complex chest problems.
ACHALASIA
Achalasia is a disorder of the esophagus that makes it difficult to swallow solid or liquid foods. About 70 percent of patients with achalasia also experience regurgitation (backflow) of food. Heartburn and chest pain also may be present with achalasia. Although it can develop in children and adults, this condition occurs most often in middle-age adults or older adults.
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE
Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Fibrosis are general terms used to describe inflammatory and fibrotic disorders of lung tissue (interstitium). There are over 100 known causes of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis, which include familial and genetic disorders, inhaled substances, infections, medications, and connective tissue diseases.
LUNG CANCER
Overview Lung cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both of the lungs. The majority of lung cancers begin in the bronchial tubes that conduct air in and out of the lungs. Cancers of the lung are classified by how they appear under a microscope.
MEDIASTINAL TUMORS
Mediastinal tumors are tumors that develop in the mediastinum – the area of the chest that separates the lungs and contains the heart, aorta, esophagus, thymus and trachea. Mediastinal tumors can form and grow in the thymic, nerve, lymphatic or soft tissue and are seen in the front (anterior), middle, or back (posterior) of the mediastinum.
PLEURAL EFFUSIONS
Our thoracic surgeons use minimally invasive techniques for conditions of the lung and chest wall. Today, they perform many minimally invasive procedures each year using video-assisted and robot-assisted approaches: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) involves insertion of a long, thin tube (called a thoracoscope) through a small incision, or port.
RECURRENT PNEUMOTHORAX
Pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between the lungs and chest wall, causing part or all of a lung to collapse. VATS surgery is performed to prevent recurrence of the problem, or when prior treatment with a chest tube is unsuccessful. Any abnormal blisters on the surface of the lung that contribute to air leakage are removed during the procedure. In addition, medicine is applied to the pleural surfaces to reduce the risk of future lung collapse.