Cardiothoracic surgery is the subspecialty in surgery that focuses on the heart and the chest or thorax. In some jurisdictions the foci are separated into heart and thoracic surgery. The specialist responsible for conducting these procedures is referred to as a cardiothoracic surgeon.

However, for the reason previously mentioned, such a specialist may be a cardiac, thoracic or cardiovascular surgeon. Training is highly competitive and quite extensive. In many countries it takes nearly a decade of medical studies before one begins the training to become this type of surgeon, which requires, on average, an additional six years of study.

The primary indications for cardiothoracic surgery are debilitating conditions affecting the heart and lungs, as well as the greater chest area. Cardiovascular and lung diseases are globally associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

In fact, lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide, whereas cardiovascular diseases account for one of the most common causes of preventable death. Diseases falling within the cardiothoracic spectrum are not just limited to those which arise from cancer, metabolic and environmental causes, but may also be due to factors such as blood vessel stenosis, genetic and/ or congenital defects, and malformations.

Diseases cardiothoracic surgeons treat-

• Coronary artery disease
• Aortic Valve Disease.
• Mitral Valve Disease.
• Lung Cancer.
• Esophageal Cancer.
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Atrial Septal Defects.
• Ventricular Septal Defects.