Thoracic Surgery at the Hospital of the University
of Pennsylvania
At the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania,
patients are cared for by a specially-trained
thoracic surgical team including specialized thoracic
anesthesiologists and OR nurses. After surgery,
patients are transferred to a unit staffed by
nurses, physical therapists, and respiratory therapists
with a special interest in caring for thoracic
surgery patients.
Our thoracic surgeons specialize in the following
services for malignant diseases (cancer):
- Video-assisted thoracic surgical (VATS) lobectomy
for lung cancer
- Aggressive, lung-sparing operations for lung
cancer cases deemed inoperable elsewhere
- Multi-modality treatment for patients with
lung and esophageal cancer and mesothelioma
- Surgical management of lung metastases
Our surgoens also provide the following procedures
for non-malignant diseases, many of which can
be performed using a minimally invasive approach:
- Transcervical thymectomy for myasthenia gravis
(performed at only a few centers nationwide)
- Lung volume reduction surgery and bullectomy
for
emphysema
- VATS resection of mediastinal cysts and posterior
mediastinal neurogenic tumors
- VATS sympathectomy for hyperhydrosis
Research Protocols to Advance Patient Care
Standards
Basic research lab:
- The Thoracic Oncology Lab, co-directed by
Larry
Kaiser, MD, studies gene therapy and other
novel approaches to thoracic cancers.
- The Respiratory Muscle Research Laboratory,
co-directed by Joseph Shrager, MD, investigates the physiology
of the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles
as related to emphysema and other lung diseases.
Clinical research program - current active trials
include evaluations of:
- Gene therapy for malignant mesothelioma
- Staple line buttresses and chest tube management
to reduce air leak after lung surgery
- Mediastinal lymphadenectomy versus sampling
for lung cancer
- Developing of a blood test for lung cancer
- Adaptation of respiratory muscles after LVRS
We also provide access to clinical trials available
via national cooperative groups studying thoracic
disease.
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