Thoracic Surgery Services

Our experts are part of a collaborative team that treats complex airway conditions. We treat noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) conditions in the lower part of your airway. Surgical treatments we offer include:

• Tracheal dilation for stenosis
• Tracheal resection for stenosis or fistula
• Tracheobronchoplasty for tracheomalacia 

Our surgeons offer advanced minimally invasive and robotic surgeries for esophageal cancers and other conditions of the esophagus. Surgical treatments we offer include:

• Esophagomyotomy for achalasia
• Fundoplication for reflux
• Management of epiphrenic and Zenker’s esophageal diverticulum
• Minimally invasive and complex esophagectomy for esophageal cancer
• Paraesophageal/hiatal hernia repair  

Emory Healthcare thoracic surgeons partner with pulmonary specialists to treat various cancerous and noncancerous lung conditions. Treatments we offer include:

• Evaluation and biopsy of pulmonary nodules
• Minimally invasive lung cancer surgery (robotic or video-assisted)
• Lung preserving sublobar resections for early-stage lung cancers  
• Complex pulmonary resections for advanced-stage lung cancers
• Thoracentesis (drainage surgery)
• Surgical removal (resection) of a portion of the lung to treat infection or noncancerous masses 

Our surgeons are experts at treating conditions in and around the chest. Other thoracic surgeries we offer include:

• Chest wall tumor surgery
• Diaphragm plication
• Empyema/trapped lung surgery
• Mediastinal mass resection or biopsy
• Pneumothorax surgery (pleurodesis)
• Sympathectomy
• Thymectomy  

Thoracic and cardiac surgeons have extensive medical training and are board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons. But these specialists often treat different conditions. Thoracic surgeons focus on diseases and conditions affecting the lower part of the airway, the esophagus, and the lungs. Cardiac surgeons treat conditions affecting other organs in the chest cavity, including the heart.