Services and Procedures

Our surgeons and staff in UTMB's Cardiothoracic Surgery Division offer a high level of expertise using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment. They care for patients needing adult cardiac surgery, general thoracic surgery, heart and lung transplant, and cardiothoracic surgery critical care.

Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Case Conference

The thoracic oncology multidisciplinary case (MDC) conference meets weekly and comprises medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, pulmonologists, radiologists, pathologists and clinical trials personnel.  The MDC satisfies the vision of the UTMB Cancer Center to provide the most up-to-date and compassionate care for each cancer patient in a prompt manner.

Below is a partial list of the advanced and routine procedures performed at UTMB:

Lung Cancer Diagnosis, Staging and Resection

Flexible and rigid Bronchoscopy

Tracheal and bronchial balloon dilation

Tracheal and bronchial airway stents

Cervical Mediastinoscopy (staging lymph nodes at station 2, 4, 7)

Anterior Mediastinoscopy (staging lymph nodes at station 5,6)

VATS lymph node biopsy

VATS lobectomy

VATS wedge resection

Endo-bronchial or “core-out”  tumor resection

Chest wall resection and reconstruction (stage 111 lung cancer)

Sleeve lobectomy (pneumonectomy sparing lung resection)

 VATS pneumonectomy

Radical mediastinal  lympdadenectomy 

Pancoast (superior sulcus ) Tumor resection

Complex tumor resection and reconstruction

 

Surgery for Metastatic (secondary) Lung Cancers

VATS wedge resection (lung nodules) 

VATS Pleurx Catheter placement for effusions (recurrent effusions)

VATS Pleurodesis (talc)

Bronchial stenting

Bronchial ballooning

PEG tube

PEG-Jejunostomy tubes (for pts with GERD or high aspiration risks)

Laparscopic Gastrostomy tube placement

Laparscopic Jejunostomy tube placement

Mediport

Pericardial window (diagnosis and drainage of effusions)

 

Surgery for End Stage Lung Disease/Emphysema/COPD

VATS LVRS (lung volume reduction surgery)

VATS lung bleb resection

VATS Lung biopsy

VATS bronchial cyst resection

Percutaneous tracheostomy (bedside)

Lung Transplant

 

Surgery for Esophageal Cancer

EGD

Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy (MIE) 

Repair esophageal perforation

Esophageal stenting

Esophageal balloon dilation

Esophageal biopsy

PEG

PEG-Jejunostomy tubes

Laparscopic Jejunostomy tube placement

Mediport

 

Surgery for Benign Esophageal Disease

Laparoscopic paraesophageal (large giant stomach) hernia repair 

Laparscopic Nissen Fundoplication (severe GERD) 

Laparoscopic Myomectomy (achalasia)

Esophageal Diverticulectomy (symptomatic)

VATS esophageal cyst resection 

 

Surgery for Diaphragm Disorders

VATS diaphragm plication

VATS phrenic nerve stimulation

 

Surgery for Chest Wall Benign

Minimally Invasive Pectus Repair (Nuss bar), video 1, video2

Ravitch Pectus Repair

 

Surgery for Chest Wall Tumor

Rib resection and reconstruction (sarcomas, lung cancer)

 

Surgery for Hyperhidrosis (Sweaty Palm Syndrome)

VATS sympatectomy (hyperhidrosis/sweaty palm syndrome), other sites, support

 

Surgery for Pleural Disease

VATS decortications (empyema)

Thoracoplasty (empyema)

VATS pleural biopsy

VATS Pleurx drainage catheter placement

 

Surgery for Tracheal disease

Tracheal resection

Endobronchial resection of tumors

Flexible and rigid Bronchoscopy

Tracheal and bronchial balloon dilation

Tracheal and bronchial airway stents

 

 

Surgery for Mediastainal Disease

VATS thymectomy

Open Thymectomy

VATS tumor resection 

Non-sternotomy Intrathoracic Thyroid Goiter resection

  

Heart and Aortic Surgery

Surgery for Heart Failure/Arrythmia

VATS epicardial Left Ventricular lead placement

Pericardectomy (Constriction)

BiV AICD / AICD /Pacemaker implantation

MAZE procedure (surgical atrial fibrillation treatment)

Ventricular assist device (VAD)

Heart transplant, other

Ventricular aneurysectomy (Dor Procedure)

Surgery for Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE)

  

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)

Sternotomy Approaches

"Off pump" Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)

Beating Heart "ON pump"CABG

Non-beating Heart On pump CAB

Redo CABG

Non-Sternotomy Approaches

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS)CABG

Thora-CAB

Robotic CABG-Endo-CAB

 

Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery

Aortic Valve Repair/Replacement

Mitral Valve Repair/Replacement

Tricuspid Valve Repair/Replacement

 

Aortic Surgery (Aneurysms and Dissections)

Repair/Replacement Ascending Aorta

Repair/Replace Aortic Arch

Repair /Replace Descending Aorta

 

 

Heart Transplant and Ventricular Assist Device Support

Lung Transplant and ECMO Support

Cardiothoracic Surgery Critical Care