Thoracic Surgery
OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute offers leading-edge thoracic surgery. Our surgeons are the leaders in both quality and volume and remain on the cutting edge in techniques involved in surgery of the chest. You can read more about these procedures below.
Bronchial Stents
A method of keeping the major airways open using small metal meshes.
Chest Wall Disorders and Tumors
Surgical removal of chest wall abnormalities caused by cancer or infection most often. These procedures may involve the ribs and the chest wall muscles.
Esophageal Disorders and Tumors
Treatment of benign and malignant conditions of the esophagus. Again, the most common causes are infection or cancer.
Laser Resection of Lung Tumors
A cancer treatment in which a laser beam is used to destroy cancer cells in the lungs.
Lung Cancer Surgery
An extensive program involving removal of the lung or part of the lung because of cancer. The program works in cooperation with medical and radiation oncologists (cancer specialists), pulmonologists (lung specialists), and pain management specialists (most often anesthesiologists).
Lung Volume Reduction Surgery
A treatment for end-state emphysema involving the removal of a portion of over-inflated lung tissue that is no longer functioning properly in order to make the remaining lung tissue work better.
Mediastinal Disorders and Tumors
Treatment of benign and malignant conditions of the mediastinum (the middle part of the chest contents between the two lungs). Again, the most common causes are infection or cancer.
Mesothelioma Treatment and Surgical Resection Program
A complex program to diagnose and treat mesothelioma (a type of lung cancer most commonly associated with asbestos exposure). This includes minimally invasive techniques (see below) and major surgery to remove large segments.
Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
Many operations previously using large incisions (cuts) can now be done using several small incisions less than an inch in length. This allows a shorter recovery time and much less post-operative pain.
Pleural Disorders and Tumors
Treatment of benign and malignant conditions of the pleura (the lining of the lungs). This often includes minimally invasive techniques (see above). The most common causes are infection and cancer.
Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy
A unique surgical technique to remove blood clots that have traveled to the lungs and are causing high blood pressure in these organs.
Rigid Bronchoscopy
A tool by which the surgeon can look thru the major windpipe into the lungs with a specially designed instrument. The surgeon can take pictures and get biopsies (small samples) of tissue to help with diagnosis (discovering the cause of a problem or symptom).
Tracheal Surgery
Surgery of the main windpipe for benign and malignant conditions. The most common causes are infection and cancer.