Esophageal & Thoracic Surgery

Overview

Thoracic surgery involves the chest wall and the organs contained within the thoracic (chest) cavity. Surgery of the foregut addresses problems in the esophagus, stomach, and proximal small intestine. Together, these organs work to prepare food and fluids for absorption by the remainder of the bowel while preventing reflux of gastric acid, bile, and pancreatic secretions backward into the esophagus.

UR Medicine's Approach

We take a more holistic approach to esophageal surgery, combining the skill and expertise of surgeons from two surgical subspecialties: thoracic surgery and foregut surgery. As a team, our surgeons work hand-in-hand to address the host of interrelated medical conditions that affect these regions of the body.

The result is a faster and more accurate diagnosis, more insightful and effective surgical treatments, and, most importantly, more promising outcomes for our patients.

We understand that correcting a disorder of one of these organs requires restructuring or altering one or more of the other related organs. So we don’t divide problems between those in the chest and those in the abdomen. Rather, we approach the chest and foregut as a unit, and we’re skilled and comfortable working on both sides of the diaphragm to correct the problems associated with a wide range of diseases.

What Sets Us Apart?

In seeking new and better ways to care for our patients, we have pioneered many innovative procedures, including:

Minimally invasive lung, esophageal, and gastric surgery, including robotic procedures for the treatment and cure of malignancies such as:
- Lung resections
- Thymectomy
- Tracheal surgery
- Esophageal resections (MIE)
Management of GERD and esophageal motility disorders using:
- Endoscopic approaches
- Robotic/minimally invasive myotomies and anti-reflux procedures

State-of-the-art diagnostic and esophageal motility laboratories are an integral part of our practice. This division has been instrumental in the clinical development of ambulatory pH and impedance motility testing and promoting foregut diagnostics throughout the world.