The UCLA Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery has a rich
tradition of dedicated Thoracic Surgeons that provide expert surgical services
to patients with all types of benign and malignant diseases of the chest. UCLA
is one of the busiest Thoracic Surgery Programs in the Western United States.
Our Thoracic Surgeons are specialized in non-cardiac thoracic pathology. This includes, but is not limited to, the following conditions and operations:
Lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema
Thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis
First rib resection for thoracic outlet syndrome
Surgical removal of benign and malignant tumors
Airway tumor
Barrett’s esophagus
Chest wall tumor
Esophageal cancer
Germ cell tumor
Lung nodule, lung cancer, and lung metastasis
Mediastinal tumor
Mesothelioma
Neurogenic tumor
Sarcoma
Thymoma and other thymic tumors
Surgical repair of chest wall deformity: pectus
excavatum, pectus carinatum
Surgery for benign esophageal diseases: achalasia,
gastroesophageal reflux disease
We use all the latest technology when appropriate, including lasers, bronchial and esophageal stents, minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopic and thoracoscopic
surgery, and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), and computer-assisted
robotic surgery.
Thoracic Surgery at UCLA offers patients admitted to the Thoracic Surgery Service with a team of doctors, case managers, nurses, nurse practioners, physical and occupational therapists, respiratory technicians, and social workers committed to the care of individuals with chest diseases.