Thoracic surgery is a medical discipline concerned with operating in the thoracic cavity or chest. The spelling of this word is pronounced /θəˈræsɪk ˈsɜːrdʒəri/. The first syllable "tho-" is pronounced with a voiceless dental fricative sound /θ/. The second syllable "rac-" is pronounced with a schwa sound /ə/ and "surgery" is pronounced with a silent "g" but an "s" sound and a schwa /ə/ sound at the end. The correct spelling highlights its roots in both Greek (thorax meaning chest) and Latin (surgery).
Thoracic surgery, also known as thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, is a medical specialty that focuses on surgical procedures involving the organs and structures within the thoracic cavity. The thoracic cavity refers to the area of the body enclosed by the rib cage, which contains vital organs such as the heart, lungs, esophagus, and major blood vessels.
Thoracic surgery predominantly deals with the treatment of diseases and conditions affecting the chest region, particularly those related to the heart and lungs. Surgeons who specialize in this field, known as thoracic surgeons or cardiothoracic surgeons, receive extensive training to perform various procedures including open-heart surgery, lung resections, esophageal surgeries, and other intricate operations involving the organs within the thoracic cavity.
Conditions that may require thoracic surgery can include coronary artery disease, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, heart valve abnormalities, thoracic trauma, thoracic aortic aneurysms, and congenital heart defects, among others. Thoracic surgeons employ a range of techniques, from traditional open surgeries to less invasive methods such as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted procedures, depending on the nature of the condition and patient-specific factors.
The ultimate goal of thoracic surgery is to restore or improve the functioning of the organs within the thoracic cavity, alleviate symptoms, and enhance overall quality of life. This field plays a vital role in treating conditions affecting the heart and lungs, helping patients regain their health and well-being.
The term "thoracic" in thoracic surgery is derived from the Greek word "thōrakikos", which is related to the noun "thōrax" meaning "chest". The word "surgery" originates from the Latin term "chirurgia" which has been borrowed from the Greek word "kheirourgia", combining two terms: "kheir" meaning "hand" and "ergon" meaning "work". Thus, the combination of these two word origins gives us "thoracic surgery", which specifically refers to surgical procedures performed on the organs and structures inside the chest cavity, including the heart, lungs, esophagus, and major blood vessels.