What are the most common thoracic surgery procedures?

Some of the most common thoracic surgery procedures include:

1. Lobectomy: This procedure involves the removal of a lobe of the lung. It is often done to treat lung cancer or lung infections.

2. Segmentectomy: Similar to a lobectomy, this procedure involves the removal of a smaller segment of lung tissue. It is done for specific indications, usually to remove small tumors.

3. Pneumonectomy: This procedure involves the removal of an entire lung. It is typically done to treat lung cancer or in some cases, severe lung infections.

4. Biopsy: Thoracic surgeons often perform biopsies to obtain tissue samples from the lungs or other thoracic organs. These samples help to diagnose various lung diseases, including cancer.

5. Mediastinoscopy: This procedure involves the examination of the mediastinum, the area between the lungs. It is commonly used to diagnose and stage lung cancer.

6. Pleurodesis: This surgical technique involves the creation of adhesions between the layers of the pleura (the lining of the lung) to prevent recurrent pleural effusion (build-up of fluid in the space between the lungs and chest wall).

7. Thoracotomy: In certain cases, a thoracotomy is performed to access the thoracic cavity for various surgical procedures, such as the removal of tumors or repair of thoracic injuries.

8. Thoracoscopy: Also known as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), it involves the insertion of a thin, flexible tube with a camera into the chest to perform minimally invasive procedures.

These are just a few examples of commonly performed thoracic surgery procedures. The specific procedure will depend on the patient’s condition and the surgeon’s judgment.