Have you ever had to undergo chest surgery? Let's talk about this (Thoracic Surgery)

Everyone gets a little scared when they hear the word chest surgery, right? This fear is justified because the chest contains vital organs like the heart and lungs. Many people think that this is limited to heart surgeries. But "Thoracic Surgery" is a much broader topic than that. So, without further ado, let's talk about this in detail.

What is thoracic surgery?

Simply put, any surgery performed inside your chest cavity (thorax) falls into this category. Yes, the heart is the most important organ in the chest, but these surgeries are not limited to the heart. Just think, surgeries performed on many other important organs inside your chest fall into this category.

For example:

• Esophagus: The tube that carries the food we eat to the stomach.
• Trachea: The main windpipe through which we breathe.
• Diaphragm: The muscle that separates the chest and abdomen and helps with breathing.
• Chest wall: The ribs, sternum (the middle bone of the chest), and the muscles around them.
• Mediastinum: The space between the lungs that contains things like the heart, great blood vessels, and trachea.

What are the surgical methods?

Doctors can perform these surgeries in two main ways.

1. Open Surgery: In this, the surgery is performed through a relatively larger incision.

2. Minimally Invasive Surgery: This is the most common modern method used today. Here, surgeons make several small incisions and insert a small camera into the chest through them. The images from the camera are viewed on a monitor, and very fine instruments are inserted through other small incisions to perform the surgery.

• When performed on the chest, this is called VATS (Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) .
• When performed on the abdomen, this method is called laparoscopic surgery .
• Sometimes these cameras and equipment are used with the help of a robot. But remember, the robot is completely controlled by the doctor.

What diseases are treated with chest surgery?

These surgeries treat a variety of conditions that occur in the chest and upper abdomen. Let's take a look at what they are.

Are these surgeries really serious?

Yes, most chest surgeries are serious. Because the heart and lungs are two of the most vital organs in our body. Some people have to undergo complex surgeries to fix several heart problems at once. Others may have to undergo lung surgery, which is done through a small incision.

How do you prepare for surgery?

There are several things you need to prepare for before surgery.

• Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you take (even those prescribed by a doctor and those you buy without a prescription from the pharmacy).
• Your doctor may ask you to stop taking certain medications a few days before your surgery. Do not stop taking any medications without your doctor's advice.
• Quit smoking at least a month before surgery, especially if it's a lung surgery. If you don't smoke for a month after surgery, you can reduce the risk of complications during wound healing by half.
• Stop eating and drinking the night before surgery, or as directed by the doctor.
• Make a plan for your recovery. Arrange for someone to come home and help you for a few days. It's also a great idea to prepare a few meals in advance and store them in the freezer.

What to expect after surgery?

After surgery, you will regain consciousness while in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Recovery Room.

• The breathing tube that was used to help you breathe will be removed.
• Chest drains will be placed to drain fluid from the chest. A catheter will also be placed to drain urine.
• When your condition improves, you will be transferred to a regular ward.
• It is very important to walk around the room with assistance and do breathing exercises as soon as possible. This will greatly help the lungs function properly again.
• Once you have achieved the goals the doctor expects, you can go home. This can usually take between 3 and 10 days, depending on the nature of the surgery.

Let's also learn about the risks and recovery time.

Possible risks

Like any surgery, there are some risks.

• Infections, especially lung infections such as pneumonia.
• Lung collapse.
• Blood clots.
• Depression.
• Heartbeat irregularities.
• Pulmonary edema.

Time to heal

This depends entirely on the nature of the surgery you had. If you had a small incision, you may be able to go home in 3-4 days. However, it may take a month or more to fully recover.

Depending on the nature of the surgery, you may not be able to drive for about a month. The doctor also advises you to avoid lifting heavy objects for about 6 weeks.

When should you see a doctor?

• Severe chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Bleeding or pus oozing from cuts
• Fever
• Swelling, redness of cuts

Breast surgery is not a simple procedure, but knowing the right information about it will go a long way in alleviating your fears.

thoracic surgery, chest surgery, heart surgery, lung surgery, CABG, lobectomy, open heart surgery, VATS