Thoracic surgeon in Swiss Medical Network explaining a patient about his thoracic condition via CT Scan

Thoracic surgery

Thoracic surgery treats diseases and injuries, which affect the rib cage and its organs, excluding the heart, aorta and oesophagus. Pulmonary transplants come under the competency of university hospitals.  

Thoracic surgeons are highly trained medical professionals who excel in both traditional and minimally invasive surgical techniques, addressing conditions such as lung cancer, pleural disorders, chest wall disorders and mediastinal tumours.  

Most common diseases
Techniques used
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Quick facts

  • Common causes: Some of the common causes for needing thoracic surgery can include: smoking, infections, environmental exposure such as asbestos or exposure to dust and fumes, cancer and cardiovascular conditions.  

  • Symptoms: As the field of thoracic surgery treats a wide range of illnesses the symptoms vary, some of the most common are: chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness and abnormal lung sounds.  

  • Diagnosis: Our thoracic specialists consider the medical history and the physical examination, CT and MRI scans, Bronchoscopy and Echocardiography to just name a few.  

  • Treatment options: Our surgeons perform a wide variety of procedures such as lung cancer surgery, Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), Oesophageal surgery and Robotic-Assisted Surgery.  

The fields of thoracic surgery 

Strictly speaking, these fields involve the diagnosis and surgical treatment of traumas and diseases relating to the lungs, the rib cage and the mediastinum. In particular, these include cancers (lung cancer is the deadliest oncological disease worldwide), pulmonary metastases, emphysema, lung infections, diseases of the pleura, and thoracic deformities and malformations (pectus excavatum and also pectus carinatum).  

Most common diseases treated with thoracic surgery 

  • Cancer: can range from lung cancer, oesophagal cancer, mediastinal tumours and pleural mesothelioma. Furthermore, it includes pulmonary metastases, which can be treated through conventional open surgery or minimally-invasive procedures.

  • Emphysema: is a lung disease that affects the air sacs (alveoli) in which they lose their elasticity and thus the surface area for breathing reduces. 

  • Lung Infections (e.g., Abscess or Empyema): Surgical drainage or removal of infected lung tissue may be necessary. 

  • Diseases of the pleura: Surgical procedures may be used to drain excess fluid that accumulates in the pleural space surrounding the lungs. 

  • Thoracic deformities and malformations: These are irregularities in the shape of the thoracic region, they range from «funnel chest» (pectus excavatum) to the opposite (pectus carinatum) and scoliosis as much chest wall malformations.  

  • Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating): Thoracic sympathectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat severe cases of excessive sweating, primarily affecting the hands, face, and armpits. 

Our services for your thoracic treatment  

Staying healthy  

Thoracic illnesses can prevent a patient from even the little tasks in life. To regain some sort of normality, we believe that a holistic approach is important for recovery.  

We believe that active and passive physiotherapy is an essential part of treatment before and following thoracic surgery.  

Optimising your nutritional status is essential before and after a thoracic operation. It is widely demonstrated that adequate nutrition is key to improving the effectiveness of your treatment, long-term survival, quality of life and limiting complications after surgery.  

Thoracic procedures  

If you are scheduled for thoracic surgery, a multi-disciplinary team will provide pre, while and post-care for you. 

  • Thoracoscopy (keyholes surgery): This minimally invasive approach allows the surgeon to access the thoracic cavity using a small camera and long, narrow surgical instruments. The operation requires several, small, 1 cm incisions. This technique is currently used to treat several conditions. It leaves only minimal scarring. 

  • Thoracotomy: This is a kind of surgical procedure used to open the rib cage using a long incision between two ribs. It is used in some major operations. The mobility of the shoulder and arm is not affected, and the incision is not incapacitating. Before the procedure, it is generally beneficial to administer local anaesthesia using an epidural catheter. The pain experienced after the operation is comparable to that of a broken rib. There may be some discomfort around the part of the chest wall that has been operated on, but this will disappear after a few weeks.  

  • Sternotomy: This is a surgical operation, which opens the sternum, the breastbone in the centre of the rib cage that is attached to the ribs. This procedure gives the surgeon access to the mediastinal area near the heart. It also enables them, for example, to carry out a thymectomy in the case of pathologies, which affect the thymus. At the end of the operation, the two parts of the sternum are reattached using metal wires. This operation is generally well tolerated, and patients can resume physical activity in approximately two months.  

  • Thoracic drainage: After any surgical incision in the thorax, one or two drainage tubes are inserted into the thoracic cavity to drain residual liquid and air. They are normally removed after a few days.  

Follow-up treatments   

Our main goal is that you can quickly return to your normal life after an operation or treatment, we offer a wide range of rehabilitation options and medical follow-up checks at Swiss Medical Network.   

Services for patients living outside Switzerland

GENOLIER PATIENT SERVICES is at your side if you're looking into finding the top specialists for thoracic surgery in Switzerland.

Find out more about our specific offer for international patients and request your personalised programme today.

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Videos

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Interview with Prof. Weder, thoracic surgery (Privatklinik Bethanien)

FAQ answered by our thoracic surgeons

What are the risks of Thoracic Surgery?

Risks include bleeding, infection, leg thrombosis and pulmonary embolus, anaesthesia complications, and damage to nearby structures. Specific risks depend on the type of surgery and the patient's health.

How long is the recovery period?

The recovery period varies based on the procedure and individual patient factors. Generally, patients can expect to spend several to a few days to a week in the clinic. 

Are there long-term effects after Thoracic Surgery?

Long-term effects depend on the underlying condition and the success of the surgery. Patients experience gradual improvement of their quality of life after surgery, but continued follow-up care is essential, especially for cancers.

Doctors with this specialisation

Privatklinik Bethanien

Prof. Dr. med. Walter Weder

Specialisation
Thoracic surgery, General surgery, Da Vinci
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