Thoracic Surgeons at both NewYork-Presbyterian provide advanced, high-quality compassionate care to patients suffering from diseases of the lung, trachea, esophagus, chest wall and mediastinum.
Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
The coordinated efforts of a dedicated team of experienced surgeons, pulmonologists, cardiothoracic anesthesiologists, gastroenterologists, medical and radiation oncologists, intensivists, surgical and intensive care nurses, and respiratory therapists allow a smooth transition for our patients through our state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities, and intensive care and thoracic surgical units.
Our thoracic surgeons are world-class experts in the treatment of end-stage lung disease such as lung cancer and emphysema, and NewYork-Presbyterian is the major lung transplant center in the New York Metropolitan area. The advanced technology available at NewYork-Presbyterian allows a high proportion of thoracic procedures to be performed using minimal access surgery. The applications for minimal access surgery have expanded considerably and now include not only the diagnosis but also the definitive surgical treatment of lung, esophageal, mediastinal disorders and hyperhidrosis.
In addition, specialized state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment for all aspects of pulmonary disease are provided at the LeBuhn Center for Chest Disease and Respiratory Failure, located at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia.
World-Class Lung Cancer Surgery
Most of the thoracic surgeries performed at our hospital are for lung cancer, so our thoracic surgeons have exceptional experience in this area.
- Finding lung tumors earlier. With the advent of lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scanning in people with a history of smoking, more tumors are being found earlier, when they are small. As of 2023, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospitals also offers robotic-assisted bronchoscopy using the Ion by Intuitive. With its advanced mapping technique and flexibility, the Ion helps physicians target lung nodules that were previously inaccessible.
- Minimally invasive lung cancer surgery. Many patients can have lung cancer surgery using a minimally invasive approach called "video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery" (VATS) to remove the affected lobe of the lung. Patients who have VATS typically experience a shorter hospital stay, more rapid improvement of breathing function, and less postoperative discomfort than those who have open surgery.
- Robotic lung cancer surgery. Some lung cancer surgeries can be performed using a robotic approach. During the procedure, the surgeon sits at a console, viewing the surgical field through the robot's "vision system." The surgeon uses controls to operate the various arms and cameras of the robot, which are placed into position by surgical assistants. The surgery robot enables the surgeon to operate with greater magnification of the surgical field and more precision in the use of surgical instruments.
- Experience treating mesothelioma. In addition to carcinomas of the lung, our thoracic surgeons have more experience than many doctors treating people with pleural mesothelioma, a tumor of the lung lining caused by asbestos.
Minimally Invasive Esophageal Cancer Surgery
Surgical removal of the esophagus for cancer has traditionally required an open approach. At NewYork-Presbyterian, we offer this procedure but often use minimally invasive surgical approaches — such as laparoscopy or video-assisted thoracoscopy — whenever possible for people with operable esophageal cancer. We place endoscopes through small incisions in the chest and abdomen to visualize, manipulate, and remove the esophagus and surrounding lymph nodes.
- Surgery for tumors in all locations. Some esophageal cancers can be challenging
