What is cardiothoracic surgery?
Cardiothoracic surgery treats common and complex conditions of the heart, lungs, esophagus and chest. Depending on your condition, treatment may involve:
- Traditional open surgery
- Minimally invasive techniques
- Catheter-based or transcatheter procedures
Your care team works closely with you to determine the safest, most effective approach based on your diagnosis, anatomy and overall health.
Surgical Heart Procedures
Our cardiothoracic surgeons provide comprehensive surgical care for heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart valve disease and heart rhythm disorders. Common heart surgery procedures we perform include:
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)
CABG is used to treat coronary artery disease caused by blocked or narrowed arteries. During the procedure, a surgeon uses a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body to bypass the blockage and restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
Heart Valve Repair or Replacement
Heart valve surgery treats valves that are narrowed (stenosis) or leaking. Depending on the condition, valves may be repaired or replaced to improve blood flow through the heart and relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure used to replace a narrowed aortic valve. Instead of open surgery, the new valve is delivered through a catheter inserted through a small incision and positioned within the existing valve.
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Surgery
Atrial fibrillation surgery, sometimes called the maze procedure, creates small, controlled scars in the heart to interrupt abnormal electrical signals and help restore normal heart rhythm.
Aortic Surgery Expertise
The aorta is the body’s largest artery, and conditions affecting it can be life-threatening if not carefully monitored and treated. ProMedica cardiothoracic surgeons diagnose, manage and surgically treat aortic disease, including aneurysms and dissections in collaboration with the experts at ProMedica Jobst Vascular Institute.
Lung and Chest Surgery
In addition to heart surgery, our cardiothoracic team treats conditions involving the lungs and chest using both minimally invasive and traditional techniques.
These surgeries are often performed to diagnose disease, relieve symptoms or remove damaged or diseased tissue while protecting healthy lung function.
At ProMedica, we offer a full range of thoracic surgery services to help with your unique needs.
Thoracic Surgery Options
Our surgeons will work with you to decide on the right procedure for your condition and overall health. Our surgery options include:
- Bilobectomy: Removes two of the lobes in the right lung.
- Decortication: Removes the outer surface (or membrane) of the lung. This allows the lung to expand completely.
- Empyema: Treats an infection in the lung.
- Lobectomy: Removes one of the lobes of the lungs.
- Lung biopsy: Removes a tissue sample from the lungs to be tested for lung disease, cancer or another condition.
- Pericardial window: Drains fluid from the pericardial sac that surrounds the heart.
- Pneumonectomy: Removes the lung.
- Pneumothorax: Treats a collapsed lung.
- Robotic thoracic surgery: Offers all the benefits of robot-assisted surgery. Because it makes tiny incisions (cuts) in your chest, most robotic lung surgery patients experience better outcomes, shorter hospital stays and quicker recoveries.
- Thoracotomy: Reaches the lungs through an incision in the side of the chest, usually between the ribs.
- Tracheostomy: Creates a hole in the front of your neck to insert a breathing tube.
- Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS): Removes all or part of a lung using a type of minimally invasive surgery. The surgeon uses a special camera called a thoracoscope for a detailed view of the lung.
- Wedge resection (segmental resection): Removes part of the lung.
What To Expect Before and After Surgery
Your surgeon will explain the purpose of your procedure, what it treats and specific details on what to expect before, during and after surgery.
Before surgery, your care team will guide you through required testing, which may include blood work, imaging, an electrocardiogram and other evaluations. You’ll also receive instructions to help you prepare at home.
After surgery, coordinated inpatient care and follow-up appointments are designed to support recovery, manage pain and help you safely return to daily activities.
Why choose ProMedica for cardiothoracic surgery?
When heart, lung or chest surgery is part of your care plan, you want confident expertise and seamless support — from diagnosis through recovery. Here’s what sets ProMedica apart:
- Nationally recognized surgical outcomes
- Board-certified, experienced cardiothoracic surgeons
- Advanced minimally invasive and catheter-based options
- Coordinated care from diagnosis through recovery
Our team is here to help you take the next step with confidence.
Featured Locations
ProMedica Physicians Cardiothoracic Surgeons
Discover expert cardiothoracic care in northwest Ohio. Our board-certified surgeons offer advanced heart and lung treatments, from open-heart to minimally invasive procedures.
ProMedica Toledo Hospital
For 150 years, ProMedica Toledo Hospital has set the standard in healthcare. Explore our expert services, from minimally invasive surgeries to 24/7 heart care.
Related Services & Conditions
Aortic Care
Our highly trained specialists use advanced imaging, genetic analysis and the latest in surgical and minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat a range of aortic diseases and disorders.
Surgical Services
If you need surgery, our board-certified surgeons are here to help. We perform about 60,000 general and specialty surgeries, including HIPEC, each year for a wide range of conditions.