Rolden: We are still in this book... So....
Surgeons can choose to specialize in one particular area of medicine and perform surgery related specifically to that area. The following provides information on various surgical specialties:
Cardiothoracic
Cardiothoracic surgery focuses on issues and diseases of the heart, lungs, oesophagus and chest. Cardiothoracic surgeons can perform a variety of surgical procedures for issues such as: coronary artery disease, 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, and atrial fibrillation. Surgical procedures can often be complicated, such as in cases like replacement valve operations and coronary artery bypass grafting.
Monitoring patients in intensive care is an important part of a cardiothoracic surgeon's work. Complications can sometimes occur, including heart-beat irregularity (arrhythmias), stroke, post-operative bleeding, fluid around the lungs, infection, or thrombosis.
Within the specialty of cardiothoracic surgery, there are also several sub-specialties:
Adult Cardiac Surgery
Pediatric Cardiac Surgery (surgery on newborns and infants to correct issues that were present at birth)
Thoracic Surgery (benign diseases, tumors, cancer of the lungs and oesophagus)
Congential Cardiac Surgery
Heart and Lung Transplant Surgery
Heart Failure Surgery