Thoracic Surgery

New Patient Appointment or 214-645-7700

Thoracic surgery treats cancerous and noncancerous conditions of the chest, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lung and esophageal cancer, hernias, and swallowing disorders.

UT Southwestern’s thoracic surgery team brings together world-class specialists who use the latest minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques to treat both common and complex conditions of the chest and upper gastrointestinal (GI) system.

What Is Thoracic Surgery?

Thoracic surgery is a broad field that includes operations on the organs and tissues within the chest (thorax). This area contains vital structures such as the heart, lungs, esophagus (food pipe), trachea (windpipe), diaphragm, and chest wall. Thoracic surgeons treat diseases and conditions that affect these organs, including lung cancer, heart valve disease, esophageal tumors, and chest wall injuries.

At UT Southwestern, more than 90 percent of our thoracic operations are performed minimally invasively. This offers many benefits, including:

Reduced pain
Improved postoperative recovery
Reduced hospital stay
Reduced scarring

Reduced complications
Reduced inflammatory response
Faster recovery and sooner return to regular activities

Thoracic surgeries can improve heart and lung function, treat serious diseases, or relieve symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing.

Why Choose UT Southwestern for Thoracic Surgery?

UT Southwestern thoracic surgeons are specialty-trained physicians who continue to expand treatment options for patients, utilizing minimally invasive procedures, including video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted technology. We offer a wide variety of chest operations – and perform more than 800 of these procedures every year.

We apply state-of-the-art surgical techniques with a focus on early diagnosis, better cancer staging, and multidisciplinary care to the treatment of malignancies of the chest such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thymic malignancies, and mesothelioma. Our National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the gold standard for cancer centers, is a center for excellence in patient care, research, and education, and the only center with this designation in North Texas.

Our thoracic surgeons are an integral component of a multidisciplinary team that includes:

Pulmonologists (lung specialists)
Gastroenterologists (digestive and liver disease specialists)
Medical oncologists (cancer specialists)
Radiation oncologists (cancer specialists)
Radiologists
Interventional radiologists
Advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners
Nutritionists
Physical therapists
Social workers

Our team of specialists is dedicated to the multidisciplinary evaluation and comprehensive care of patients with diseases of the chest, and providing every patient with the best experience.

All of our experts are available on the same campus, and patients can usually see them in one day.

Team Photo for the Cardiothoracic Team — UT Southwestern's Cardiothoracic Team

What Are the Types of Thoracic Surgery?

Our general thoracic surgeons perform the most advanced surgical procedures available for all types of chest conditions – both malignant (cancerous) and benign (noncancerous). These surgical treatments include:

Advanced flexible and rigid bronchoscopy, laser, argon, cryotherapy, microdebrider, stents
Antireflux procedures, Nissen, Heller, Dor, Belsey, reoperative antireflux procedures
Chest wall reconstruction for pectus excavatum and carinatum and other chest wall abnormalities
Diaphragmatic plication
Esophageal diverticulectomy
Esophageal mass resection
Esophageal reconstruction with colon or small bowel
Esophageal stent placement
Esophagectomy, minimally invasive and robotic
First rib resection for thoracic outlet syndrome and tumors
Heller myotomy

Lobectomy
Lung biopsy
Lung volume reduction surgery for end-stage emphysema
Median sternotomy
Mediastinal mass resection
Minimally invasive and robotic surgeries
Nuss pectus excavatum repair
Paraesophageal hernia “giant hiatal hernia” repair
Pleurodesis
Pleuroscopy and pleural biopsy
PleurX catheter placement
Pneumonectomy
POEM (Peroral endoscopic myotomy) – endoscopic procedure to treat swallowing disorders, including achalasia
Ravitch chest wall reconstruction

Resection of the chest wall
Segmentectomy
Sleeve lung resection
Sternal resection for tumor
Thoracic sympathectomy
Thoracotomy for lung, esophageal, mediastinal, and diaphragm resection
Thymectomy
Tracheal and bronchial stent placement
Tracheal and carinal resection
Tracheal resection for stenosis and tumor
Tracheoplasty for tracheomalacia
Wedge resection
Zenker’s diverticulectomy

Future of Thoracic Surgery

Inderpal Sarkaria, M.D., Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, shares his optimism for the future of Thoracic Surgery at UT Southwestern.

What Conditions Does Thoracic Surgery Treat?

Benign Conditions Treated by Thoracic Surgery

Airway fistulas
Airway stenosis
Chest wall diseases – including congenital deformities, noncancerous tumors and masses, thoracic outlet syndrome, Paget Schroetter syndrome, and pectus excavatum and carinatum
Diaphragm diseases – including paralysis, pacing, plication, and congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Barrett’s esophagus
Benign airway tumors
End-stage emphysema

Malignant Conditions Treated by Thoracic Surgery

What Can Patients Expect with Thoracic Surgery?

Before Thoracic Surgery

At UT Southwestern, patients undergo a thorough evaluation to determine the best surgical plan. This process may include:

Diagnostic testing, such as bloodwork, X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and pulmonary function tests to assess lung capacity
Specialized evaluations for heart or lung conditions, including electrocardiograms or echocardiograms
Lifestyle preparation, such as quitting smoking at least a month before surgery to improve healing and lung function
Medication review to identify drugs that may need to be stopped before the operation
Recovery planning, including arranging for transportation, caregiver support, and meal preparation at home

During Thoracic Surgery

Thoracic surgery is performed under general anesthesia, which means the patient is fully asleep and feels no pain during the procedure. The surgery may involve:

Making incisions either through the breastbone (sternotomy) or between the ribs (thoracotomy)
Using advanced techniques such as VATS or robotic-assisted surgery for smaller incisions
Repairing, removing, or replacing the affected organ or tissue
Placing drainage tubes to prevent fluid buildup in the chest

Our anesthesiology team monitors the patient’s vital signs closely throughout the operation to ensure safety.

After Thoracic Surgery

Recovery begins in a specialized postoperative unit or intensive care setting. Patients can expect:

Close monitoring as the breathing tube and drainage tubes are gradually removed
Early movement – walking and breathing exercises to prevent lung complications
Hospital stay that may last three to 10 days, depending on the procedure and recovery speed
Gradual return to normal activity, with most people resuming light tasks in several weeks and full recovery taking up to a few months
Follow-up care to monitor healing, manage pain, and reduce the risk of infection or blood clots

Thoracic surgery can extend life, improve breathing and heart function, and significantly enhance quality of life for many patients.

What Clinical Trials Are Available for Thoracic Surgery?

We’re committed to research and offer clinical trials that give eligible patients access to the newest, most promising therapies for thoracic diseases. Many of these clinical trials offer a personalized approach in which molecular defects found in tumors undergo specific targeted therapy. Patients should talk with their doctor to determine if a clinical trial is right for them.

In addition, we offer state-of-the-art computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening for patients at high risk for the disease.