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McGovern Medical School

Our Thoracic Surgery Specialists

UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann TMC

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Leaders in thoracic surgery

The Thoracic Surgery Program at UTHealth Houston is dedicated to delivering comprehensive, advanced surgical care for patients with thoracic diseases. Our team, comprised of experienced and highly skilled board-certified thoracic surgeons, are leaders in their field. They possess specialized knowledge and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of a broad spectrum of thoracic conditions, focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest (thorax) disorders and the upper gastrointestinal system (esophagus and stomach), such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), achalasia, myasthenia gravis, hyperhidrosis (sweaty palms), and esophageal diverticula.

Our approach also employs advanced surgical techniques, emphasizing early diagnosis, precise cancer staging, and a multidisciplinary approach to treat chest malignancies like lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors, thymic malignancies, and mesothelioma.

Our specialized thoracic surgeons are at the forefront of patient care, utilizing minimally invasive procedures, including video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted technology, which 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

We understand that facing a thoracic condition can be overwhelming, and we are committed to supporting you through every step of your treatment journey. Our compassionate healthcare team will take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and provide you with the information and support you need to make informed decisions about your care.

Conditions we treat

Our specialized team of thoracic surgeons are equipped to address patients dealing with a broad spectrum of conditions, encompassing both malignant (cancerous) and benign (noncancerous) issues within the chest, lungs, esophagus, chest wall, mediastinum, diaphragm, pericardium, and airway.

A range of conditions treated within the program include:

Benign (noncancerous) conditions such as:

  • Airway fistulas
  • Airway stenosis
  • Barrett’s esophagus
  • Benign airway tumors
  • Mediastinal disease
  • Pericardial effusion
  • Pleural effusion
  • Pleural benign nodules and masses
  • Pulmonary nodules
  • Suspicious lung lesions
  • End-stage emphysema
  • Esophageal dysmotility
  • Esophageal perforation
  • Esophageal reflux
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • 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

Malignant (cancerous) thoracic conditions such as:

  • Airway cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Metastatic disease of the lung
  • Mesothelioma
  • Pancoast cancer
  • Pericardial cancer
  • Pleural cancer
  • Cancer of the chest wall and cancer of the diaphragm

Advanced treatment options

The Thoracic Surgery Program at UTHealth Houston utilizes the most advanced surgical procedures and treatment options for all types of chest conditions. These may include:

  • 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
  • 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
  • Pleurodesis
  • Pleuroscopy and pleural biopsy
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Ravitch chest wall reconstruction
  • Resection of the chest wall
  • Segmentectomy
  • Sleeve lung resection
  • Sternal resection for tumor
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • 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

Why choose our program: The UTHealth Houston advantage

Our patients have access to state-of-the-art medical technology, featuring both diagnostic and therapeutic methods that surpass those available at other regional centers. Our thoracic surgeons are leaders in robotic surgery, providing training to surgeons globally. We prioritize the use of advanced minimally invasive approaches whenever suitable and excel in managing advanced-stage malignancies.