Cardiothoracic Surgery

This field of medicine involves the surgical treatment of disease affecting the heart and great vessels, lungs, esophagus and other areas in the chest. Heart disease that may necessitate surgery includes congenital disease, valve disease and coronary artery disease.

Cardiothoracic surgeons treat diseases including coronary artery disease; lung, esophageal, and chest wall cancers; tumors of the chest cavity; and heart and lung transplantation.

A cardiothoracic surgeon requires up to 12 years of education and training to become board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. This education includes four years of medical school, five years of training in a general surgery residency and an additional two to three years of residency in cardiothoracic surgery.

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