Cardiothoracic Surgery (Heart and Lung Surgery)

Cardiothoracic surgery at the Heart and Vascular Institute.

Dedicated institutes of care

Your care team of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, pulmonologists, oncologists and other specialists partners with experts from Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence and Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute to provide advanced, personalized diagnosis and treatments.

Experts in minimally invasive procedures

Our highly skilled cardiothoracic team is led by nationally renowned thoracic surgeon Richard Chang, MD, who is an expert in minimally invasive thoracic procedures. 

Comprehensive treatments

We offer the latest treatments for lung cancer, esophageal cancer, GERD, chest tumors, and other diseases of the chest, lung and esophagus. 

Heart and lung services

Specialists at our cardiac rehab and pulmonary rehab programs help you strengthen your heart and lungs after surgery, so you can safely return to active living.

Advanced treatment options

Robotic Thoracic (Lung) Surgery

Precision lung surgery is always our goal. Robotically-assisted thoracic surgery performed by our thoracic surgeon using the da Vinci® Xi robotic surgery system helps achieve that outcome with smaller and fewer incisions.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair

Your doctor places a mesh structure called a stent graft to prevent an aneurysm rupture. The stent graft supports the weakened or bulging section of the aorta located in your chest.

Heart valve replacement

Your doctor replaces a damaged heart valve with a mechanical valve or a biological valve made from heart tissue taken from a pig (porcine) or cow (bovine). 

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

Your doctor uses a thoracoscope (tiny camera) and surgical instruments to perform lung surgery via small incisions in your chest.

Lobectomy

Your surgeon removes an entire lobe from a diseased lung. Thoracic surgeon Richard Chang, MD, performed Philadelphia’s first robotic lobectomy in 2010.

Esophagectomy

Your doctor removes cancerous or diseased sections of the esophagus, and then reconstructs the missing section using part of your stomach or intestine.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication

To alleviate acid buildup and pressure caused from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), your doctor wraps part of your stomach around the bottom of your esophagus.

Video-assisted pleurodesis

Your surgeon uses a thoracoscope (tiny camera) to guide insertion of a catheter into the chest to drain fluid. Your doctor may also inject medicine into the chest to prevent fluid buildup.

Heart surgery

When needed, we partner with cardiac surgeons to perform heart surgeries.