Chest surgery involves surgical treatment for all organs that are part of the cardiac and lungs group. It extends from the organs of the chest to the esophagus, the trachea, the chest wall. Chest surgery treats everything from blood vessels inside the chest to the bony structures and tissues that form and support the chest cavity. Skope surgeons work in a close team with experts of different streams to provide comprehensive, innovative, and supportive care to all patients.
Esophageal & Airway Cancer
Esophageal cancer with airway invasion is a challenging health concern that has no standard procedure of treatment. Esophageal cancer develops when the DNA of cells in the esophagus change and cells grow and divide out of control. They grow and extend to other parts of the body, reaching the liver or any other organ.
Diagnosis involves swallowing barium and undergoing X-rays. The liquid shows lumps on the inner lining of the esophagus and changes in tissue. Endoscopy involves using a flexible tube equipped with a video lens and passing it through the throat into the esophagus. It helps in collecting tissue samples and sending them to a laboratory to look for cancer cells. Treatment recommendation depends on the type of cells involved in cancer, stage of cancer, and overall health. Small tumors that have not spread and remain confined to the superficial layers of the esophagus respond well to surgery done using an endoscope. Esophagectomy is a surgical process of removing the part of the esophagus that contains the cancerous cell. The upper part of the stomach and nearby lymph nodes also needs extraction.
Surgery is complicated and comes with many risks of infection, bleeding, and leakage. However, advanced laparoscopic surgery controls the number of risks. Yet, the success rate of surgery depends on the individual situation and skills of the laparoscopy doctor.
Empyema Chest & Other Surgeries
A space between the outermost layer of the lungs and the layer touching the chest wall is a pleural space. When pleural space fills with pus, there occurs a condition known as Empyema.
Naturally small amount of fluid is present in pleural space. But when due to pneumonia, a lung infection pus accumulates in pleural space it causes the lining of the lungs and chest cavity to stick together and form pockets. It restricts the lungs from inflating and causes breathing problems.
Diagnosis needs experts to recommend X-ray, CT scan, blood test, and thoracentesis. Thoracentesis is a procedure of inserting a needle into the rib cage to take a fluid and then analyze it under a microscope to look for bacteria, protein, and other cells. Treatment focuses on removing the pus and fluid from the pleura and treating the infection. Thoracostomy needs experts to insert a plastic tube into the chest between two ribs. Tubes are connected to a suction device and remove the fluid. Injecting medicine helps in draining the liquid. Decortication involves removing the pus pockets and fibrous tissue from the pleural space, which lets the lungs expand properly.
Traumatic Chest Injuries
Injuries to the chest wall, the bones, skin, fat, and muscles protecting lungs, including ribs and sternum, or any organs inside the chest, can be minor or need urgent medical attention. Sudden blunt force such as a fall from a height or a motor vehicle collision leads to fractured ribs and other minor injuries like bruising or abrasions. With age, bones become weak, and even a faint force can fracture a rib. The rib fracture is not a concern of experts as it is rarely a matter of worry but what they explore in-depth is if sudden force lead to a bruised or collapsed lung.
Diagnosis needs experts to undertake physical examination and make some investigations through CT scan, X-ray. A fractured rib heals on its own with time, but it needs a person to consult a doctor and know about breathing exercises. It is essential to keep the air sacs in the lung open and prevent pneumonia type of chest infection. Chest injuries many times lead to a chest infection. It needs regulation and monitoring to prevent any damage they do to the lungs or adjacent organs.