2 answers
Sphesihle
Student
Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa
1
Question
Updated
769 views
What is it like to be a cardiothoracic surgeon?
guys do any if you also know about cardiothoracic surgeons because I want to know more about them and wish was a heart surgeon all i need is information
Login to comment
2 answers
Bailey BSN, RN
Registered Nurse
57
Answers
Updated
Bailey’s Answer
I personally have worked closely with an interventional cardiologist. They have inspired me to become a physician. I absolutely love the heart and how it functions. My advice would be to reach out to surgeons or cardiologists in the area and ask to shadow. This will allow you to see exactly how their day goes!
Kalyani Chendil Nayagam
2
Answers
Updated
Kalyani’s Answer
Hi! Sphesihle B,
I am sure that you are going to become someday one of the best doctors and your question shows that!!! All the best!
Here is some detail I have on cardiothoracic surgeon and what they do.
A cardiothoracic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. This includes surgeons who can be called cardiac surgeons, cardiovascular surgeons, general thoracic surgeons, and congenital heart surgeons.
Cardiothoracic surgeons will graduate from medical school and go on to complete either a 5-year general surgery residency followed by a 2- or 3-year cardiothoracic surgery residency program or enter into a 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency.
Some cardiothoracic surgeons choose to do additional training in a subspecialized area but this training is optional with the exception of congenital heart surgery, which requires completion of a 1-year fellowship.
Cardiothoracic surgeons operate on diseases that occur in the organs inside the chest and in the bony structures and tissues that form the chest cavity.
Coronary artery disease is one of the most common diseases treated by cardiothoracic surgeons.
General thoracic surgeons treat primarily lung cancer and diseases of the esophagus and chest wall.
Congenital heart surgeons care for babies and children with holes between the heart chambers or abnormal connections within the heart.
Listed below are some examples of diseases treated by cardiothoracic surgeons.
A cardiac or cardiovascular surgeon could treat:
• Coronary artery disease or blockages of the arteries in the heart
• Blockages in the heart valve(s)
• Leaking heart valve(s)
• Abnormal enlargement or aneurysms of the large arteries in the chest
• Heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation
A general thoracic surgeon could treat:
• Lung cancer
• Severe emphysema
• Esophageal cancer
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Hiatal hernias
• Swallowing disorders such as achalasia
A congenital heart surgeon could treat:
• Atrial septal defects
• Ventricular septal defects
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Hypoplastic left or right heart syndrome
• Transposition of the great arteries
I am sure that you are going to become someday one of the best doctors and your question shows that!!! All the best!
Here is some detail I have on cardiothoracic surgeon and what they do.
A cardiothoracic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. This includes surgeons who can be called cardiac surgeons, cardiovascular surgeons, general thoracic surgeons, and congenital heart surgeons.
Cardiothoracic surgeons will graduate from medical school and go on to complete either a 5-year general surgery residency followed by a 2- or 3-year cardiothoracic surgery residency program or enter into a 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency.
Some cardiothoracic surgeons choose to do additional training in a subspecialized area but this training is optional with the exception of congenital heart surgery, which requires completion of a 1-year fellowship.
Cardiothoracic surgeons operate on diseases that occur in the organs inside the chest and in the bony structures and tissues that form the chest cavity.
Coronary artery disease is one of the most common diseases treated by cardiothoracic surgeons.
General thoracic surgeons treat primarily lung cancer and diseases of the esophagus and chest wall.
Congenital heart surgeons care for babies and children with holes between the heart chambers or abnormal connections within the heart.
Listed below are some examples of diseases treated by cardiothoracic surgeons.
A cardiac or cardiovascular surgeon could treat:
• Coronary artery disease or blockages of the arteries in the heart
• Blockages in the heart valve(s)
• Leaking heart valve(s)
• Abnormal enlargement or aneurysms of the large arteries in the chest
• Heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation
A general thoracic surgeon could treat:
• Lung cancer
• Severe emphysema
• Esophageal cancer
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Hiatal hernias
• Swallowing disorders such as achalasia
A congenital heart surgeon could treat:
• Atrial septal defects
• Ventricular septal defects
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Hypoplastic left or right heart syndrome
• Transposition of the great arteries