Most heart and chest problems can be managed with lifestyle changes, medicines, and non-surgical procedures. But in some situations, surgery becomes the safest and most effective option. That is when a cardiothoracic surgeon becomes an important part of your care team. This specialist performs surgeries on organs inside the chest—most commonly the heart, and in many cases the lungs or food pipe (esophagus).
Not every chest symptom needs surgery, but these signs should prompt a medical evaluation, especially if they are new, getting worse, or affecting daily life.
If you feel tightness, heaviness, or pressure in the chest (especially during walking, climbing stairs, or stress), it may be due to reduced blood flow to the heart. This can be a sign of coronary artery disease, which sometimes requires heart bypass surgery or another procedure depending on severity.
Breathlessness can occur due to heart valve problems, heart failure, lung conditions, or fluid buildup. If it progresses or happens even at rest, doctors may evaluate for conditions that might need surgery, such as valve disease or lung disease.
Swelling and persistent tiredness can happen when the heart is not pumping efficiently. If tests show significant heart failure or valve disease, surgery may be part of the treatment plan in selected cases.
Some rhythm problems can be treated with medicines or catheter-based procedures. However, complex cases, especially with structural heart issues, may require surgical evaluation.
Sometimes a person feels fine, but an echocardiogram or other scan shows a serious valve problem, an enlarged aorta, or another defect. In such situations, surgery may be recommended before complications occur.
A referral to a cardiothoracic surgeon often happens when other treatments are no longer enough, and surgery is needed.
A cardiothoracic surgeon is a doctor who performs surgery on organs in your chest, such as the heart, lungs, and esophagus.
In simple terms: this surgeon is involved when the best treatment requires repairing or replacing a part of the heart, or treating a serious condition inside the chest through surgery.
A cardiothoracic surgeon evaluates your condition, review test results, explain treatment choices, plan surgery if needed, and guide follow-up care after surgery.
They may treat conditions involving the heart and its covering, coronary arteries, lungs, chest wall, windpipe (trachea), diaphragm, and esophagus, among others.
Not all cardiothoracic surgeons do the same work. There are different sub-specialties, such as:
This matters because your diagnosis (heart vs lung vs congenital issue) determines which specialist is best suited for your case.
A cardiothoracic surgeon can treat many chest-related problems, including:
Heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass grafting) may be advised when coronary arteries have significant blockages that reduce blood flow to the heart. The goal is to “bypass” the blocked part by creating a new route for blood flow using grafts.
People often need bypass surgery when:
A cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeon usually decide this together based on angiography and other tests.
Valve replacement may be recommended when a heart valve becomes too narrow or too leaky and starts affecting heart function or causing symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue, chest discomfort, or fainting. A cardiothoracic surgeon may also repair a valve in some cases instead of replacing it, depending on the valve and the damage.
Before deciding on surgery, your surgeon will usually review or order tests to confirm the diagnosis and understand severity. Depending on your symptoms, tests may include:
Most people meet a cardiothoracic surgeon through a referral from a cardiologist, pulmonologist, primary care doctor, or gastroenterologist, when surgery is likely needed. You may also seek a second opinion if you want reassurance about the recommended treatment.
A typical visit includes a physical exam, discussion of symptoms, review of family history, and review of previous reports. Your surgeon will also check your medicines and may ask for updated tests if earlier investigations are outdated. If enough information is available, they will explain treatment options and why surgery may or may not be necessary.
Helpful preparation:
CTVS surgery is a term commonly used for Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery—covering complex surgical care for the heart, chest organs, and major blood vessels.
The CTVS team at Citizens Specialty Hospital comprises highly qualified, skilled surgeons, anesthetists, and support staff, who specialize in diagnosing and providing comprehensive care for various complex Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular disorders with the best possible outcomes.
Citizens Specialty Hospital is one of the pioneers in offering Multi Arterial Grafting using Bi-lateral Internal Thoracic Artery (BIMA) grafts, which has superior outcomes compared to multivessel stenting and conventional heart bypass surgery that uses more vein grafts. The above procedure suits best for patients who are younger and below 70 years of age with multi-vessel coronary artery disease.
The hospital also provides complex Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular procedures such as Coronary Endarterectomy, Root Replacement, and Aortic and Vascular Aneurysm procedures with the utmost care and precision.
You may need a cardiothoracic surgeon when a heart or chest condition cannot be managed well with medicines or minor procedures, or when tests show a problem that is safest to treat with surgery. Warning signs like recurring chest pressure, worsening breathlessness, swelling, extreme fatigue, or serious test abnormalities should be evaluated promptly. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include heart bypass surgery for blocked arteries and valve replacement for severe valve disease, among other treatment options.
