Cardiothoracic surgery is derived from two words: cardio, meaning heart, and thoracic, meaning chest. It encompasses two main subspecialties: cardiac surgery, which focuses on the heart and the blood vessels connected to it, and thoracic surgery, which focuses on the lungs, the oesophagus, and other structures in the chest cavity. Cardiothoracic surgery’s importance lies in its ability to treat life-threatening or debilitating diseases such as coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, heart failure, chest trauma, etc. Cardiothoracic surgery can also improve the quality of life and survival of patients who need organ transplants, such as heart or lung transplants. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover some of the most important aspects of cardiothoracic surgery, such as the types of procedures, the preoperative and postoperative care, the recovery process, the potential complications, and the outlook for patients. Types of cardiothoracic surgery: There are many different typ
Dr. Ranjit Jagtap is a functioning individual from the Indian Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons (IACTS).