Thoracic surgeons have been trained to care for problems involving any of the body's organs that reside within the thorax (chest) as well as the muscles and bones of the chest wall. These organs of the chest include the heart, lungs, aorta, major blood vessels (both arteries and veins), as well as the esophagus.
Diseases of the lungs that may require surgery or where thoracic surgeons may provide valuable advice include lung cancer, cancer which has spread to the lung from other parts of the body, masses in the lungs that might be cancer, spontaneous pneumothorax (sudden collapse of the lung), masses in the middle portion of the chest (mediastinum), and infections or fluid collections in the chest cavities surrounding the lungs. Diseases of the esophagus that might benefit from surgery include reflux, hiatal hernia, cancers, and diverticula (abnormal outpouchings).
The aorta is the largest artery in the body and it carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aorta may enlarge due to hypertension, and as it does, the walls become thinner and weaker. If the aorta enlarges excessively (aneurysm), then the possibility of a rupture increases. When the aorta enlarges to a degree where the risk of rupture is high (usually when the diameter exceeds 2 inches or 5 centimeters) then that portion of the aorta may require replacement. In addition to the risk of rupture, an enlarged aorta has weakened layers. These layers may separate suddenly, splitting the aorta into separate tubes that may stop blood flow to certain organs or arteries. This separation of layers may also progress back towards the heart and tear the aortic valve from its connections causing leakage of the aortic valve. Such separation of the layers of the aorta is called aortic dissection and often requires emergency surgery. Because the body's blood vessels extend from the chest into other regions of the body, we also treat diseases of blood vessels in these other regions.
Cardiovascular Surgery includes cardiac surgery and vascular surgery. Cardiac surgery is performed to improve heart function and to prevent heart attacks and further heart damage. These operations include coronary artery bypass surgery, surgery to treat rhythm disturbances, and valve repair and replacements. Among the state-of-the-art procedures the CVA surgeons use is a procedure called endoscopic vein harvesting. During a coronary bypass procedure, a section of the patient's vein, usually from the leg, is used to bypass the area of blockage. The process for obtaining the leg vein used to involve an incision along the entire length of the leg, resulting very often in discomfort. CVA surgeons are acquiring this vein through a small 2-3 inch incision, thus greatly reducing the length of patients hospital stay and reducing their level of discomfort. Vascular surgery encompasses care for blood vessels outside of the chest, such as in the abdomen, neck, arms, and legs. Diseases arising in these vessels include such problems as abnormal enlargement, blockages, and separation of the layers of the vessel wall. Most frequently, these problems are caused by a buildup of cholesterol in the vessels. This buildup, called atherosclerosis, may obstruct the vessel, slowing or even stopping blood flow in the vessel. Surgery for these problems can establish blood flow around blocked vessels (bypasses), repair aneurysms to prevent rupture,and remove blockages to prevent cholesterol deposits and blood clots from traveling in the blood stream and causing a stroke.
The board certified cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons at Cardiovascular Associates have demonstrated expertise in all of these areas. We combine our excellent technical and medical knowledge, with the knowledge of the cardiologists, and a high level of compassion and personal attention for each of our patients. All procedures are performed at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center located at 130 W. Ravine Road in Kingsport, Tennessee. Holston Valley Medical Center provides state-of-the-art care to 3500 patients undergoing both diagnostic and therapeutic coronary catheterization procedures (including the newer coronary stent procedures) and approximately 600 coronary and vascular surgical procedures. The hospital has 3 dedicated cardiac operating suites and an 8 bed cardiac surgery intensive care unit.
