How to find the best thoracic surgeon?
When selecting a thoracic surgeon, it's common for patients to rely on friends' suggestions or online reviews. However, this approach may not always lead to the best choice. We advise checking doctors' profiles on AiroMedical to assess qualifications.
Choosing a skilled and experienced specialist is required for a successful chest operation. Here are a few characteristics that can help you identify a professional doctor.
Criteria for the best chest, lung, and cardiothoracic surgeon
<dl>Lung surgeon with a proper focus. You should consult a doctor specializing in the relevant disease for successful treatment. That should be not only the best cardiothoracic surgeon but also a doctor with a focus on your particular issue.
Team-based approach. A thoracic surgeon should be able to interact with doctors who deal with diseases of different organs. That involves interaction with colleagues in cardiology, pulmonology, neurosurgery, gastroenterology, etc.
Overall surgical experience. The specialist must have practical experience managing patients with chest diseases and injuries. A thoracic surgeon should also be a good diagnostician, accurately read the results of examinations, and draw the correct conclusions. That minimizes the risk of mistakes and complications.
The number of chest surgeries. The total quantity of operations performed in a year can indicate the skill level of a thoracic surgeon. Successful doctors typically perform around 100 surgeries annually or more, regardless of whether they work in a private or public clinic.
Cutting-edge technology and surgical approaches. When contacting a doctor, you should clarify the available methods and tools. Innovative surgical techniques such as video-assisted lung surgeries and mediastinoscopy might be more effective than conventional open-chest surgeries (thoracotomy).
Asses to robotic-assisted lung surgery. Many lung surgeries, mediastinum, and esophagus operations can already be performed using DaVinci robotic systems. Check if your surgery is appropriate for this technique and if a surgeon practices it.
Success rate. That is the most crucial factor to consider. Top lung, heart, and chest wall surgeons can reach impressive numbers of successful operations. However, checking for complications and mortality rates is always essential.
Specific professional achievements. As medicine continues to evolve, a skilled thoracic surgeon needs to keep up with new ways of performing reconstructive operations and complex treatments. It includes knowledge of fibro bronchoscopy and lung transplantation. Additionally, professional recognition can be demonstrated through titles, academic degrees, patents for inventions, scientific publications, awards, and honorary titles.
Thoracic clinic level. If the doctor is entirely suitable for you, the clinic where he works will play a secondary role. However, this criterion can be decisive if you choose between several specialists of the same level. Give a preference to world-class facilities for your chest surgery.</dl>
At AiroMedical, we have compiled a list of the finest thoracic surgeons who meet strict criteria based on their professional qualifications and the number of successful operations performed. We have access to a large amount of objective data that will assist you in making an informed decision.
