Thoracic Surgery

The Department of Thoracic Surgery primarily manages surgical conditions affecting the thoracic cavity, including the lungs, esophagus, trachea, pleura, mediastinum, and chest wall. Its main areas of focus are pulmonary and esophageal malignancies, as well as thoracic trauma, with minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) serving as its core technical specialty. The department’s clinical spectrum encompasses pulmonary nodules, lung cancer, esophageal tumors, mediastinal neoplasms, pleural diseases, pneumothorax, hemopneumothorax, chest wall tumors, rib fractures, esophageal perforation, and surgical management of bronchiectasis, among others. Leveraging the hospital’s advanced imaging and radiation‑oncology equipment—such as CT, MRI, and linear accelerators—the department is able to assess the benign or malignant risk of small pulmonary nodules and perform VATS–guided resection for highly suspicious lesions. It also provides comprehensive care for various types of thoracic trauma, including internal fixation for rib fractures and emergency treatment of hemopneumothorax.

For patients with a high incidence of pulmonary nodules, the department collaborates with the Department of Respiratory Medicine and the Oncology Diagnosis and Treatment Center to conduct multidisciplinary consultations, distinguishing between benign nodules and high-risk malignant lesions, carefully determining surgical indications, and avoiding overtreatment or missed opportunities for timely cancer therapy. For patients with lung cancer or esophageal cancer, comprehensive staging assessments are performed; those who meet the criteria are prioritized for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), which, compared with traditional open thoracotomy, involves smaller trauma, less postoperative pain, and faster recovery, followed by integrated oncologic therapies such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. In emergency situations—such as pneumothorax, hemopneumothorax resulting from chest trauma, or multiple rib fractures—the department promptly implements closed thoracic drainage and surgical fixation to save lives. The department places great emphasis on preoperative evaluation for elderly thoracic surgery patients, conducting a thorough assessment of pulmonary and cardiac function to gauge surgical tolerance and minimize perioperative risks; postoperatively, it strengthens respiratory management to prevent pulmonary infections and other complications and provides guidance on respiratory rehabilitation exercises. Individuals who have been found to have pulmonary nodules on screening, or who experience chest pain, hemoptysis, recurrent chest tightness, dysphagia, or pain and dyspnea following chest trauma, are encouraged to seek care in the Department of Thoracic Surgery.