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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
The Patient Guide to Heart, Lung, and Esophageal Surgery
A Website Presented by Cardiothoracic Surgeons Committed to Improving Patient Care
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  • Adult Heart Disease
      Diseases of the arteries, valves, and aorta, as well as cardiac rhythm disturbances
    • Aortic Valve Disease
    • Coronary Artery Disease
    • Mitral Valve Disease
    • Tricuspid Valve Disease
    • Cardiac Rhythm Disturbances
    • Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
    • Aortic Dissection
    • Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
    • Atrial Fibrillation (Afib)
    • VA ECMO
    • Heart Failure
    • Adult Heart Transplantation
  • Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease
      Heart abnormalities that are present at birth in children, as well as in adults
    • Atrial Septal Defect
    • Ventricular Septal Defect
    • Tetralogy of Fallot
    • Atrioventricular Canal Defect
    • Transposition of the Great Arteries
    • Coarctation of the Aorta
    • Truncus Arteriosus
    • Single Ventricle Defects
    • Patent Ductus Arteriosus
    • Pediatric Heart Transplantation
    • Pediatric Lung Transplantation
  • Lung, Esophageal, and Other Chest Diseases
      Diseases of the lung, esophagus, and chest wall
    • Lung Cancer
    • Esophageal Cancer
    • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
    • Barrett’s Esophagus
    • Chest Wall Tumors
    • Mediastinal Tumors
    • Achalasia and Esophageal Motility Disorders
    • Pleural Diseases
    • Mesothelioma
    • VV ECMO
    • End-stage Lung Disease
    • Adult Lung Transplantation
  • Procedures
      Common surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, and esophagus
    • Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
    • Lobectomy
    • Ventricular Septal Defect Surgery
  • Before, During, and After Surgery
      How to prepare for and recover from your surgery
    • Before Heart Surgery
    • Day of Heart Surgery
    • After Heart Surgery
    • Before Lung Cancer Surgery
    • Day of Lung Cancer Surgery
    • After Lung Cancer Surgery
    • Before Congenital Heart Surgery
    • Day of Congenital Heart Surgery
    • After Congenital Heart Surgery

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Search the Patient Guide for more information on procedures, news, and pre- & post-operative care.
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  • Adult Heart Disease
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Best Sleeping Positions After Open-Heart Surgery

Adult Heart Disease

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‘Christmas miracles’ — Chicago surgeon performs 3 kids’ heart ...

Heart and Lung Transplantation

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In 1988, a surgeon sewed a new heart into a cowboy. Nearly 31 years ...

Heart and Lung Transplantation

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Woman’s Hard Work Brings Heart Back To Life

Adult Heart Disease

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3D-printed hearts with 'beating' tissue could ease organ donor ...

Adult Heart Disease

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ADULT HEART DISEASE

Best Sleeping Positions After Open-Heart Surgery

Open-heart surgery requires both emotional and physical recovery

Woman’s Hard Work Brings Heart Back To Life

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PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Extra Innings

5th-grader’s heartbeat makes history at Phoenix Children’s

Sofia Receives Both Birthday Wishes: Drake Visit & Heart Transplant

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LUNG, ESOPHAGEAL, AND OTHER CHEST DISEASES

Five myths and misconceptions about the vaping illness crisis

5 questions: Is quitting smoking more difficult for women?

9 Warning Signs of Lung Cancer To Watch For—Are You Constantly ...

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HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANTATION

‘Christmas miracles’ — Chicago surgeon performs 3 kids’ heart ...

In 1988, a surgeon sewed a new heart into a cowboy. Nearly 31 years ...

Doctors 'reanimate' heart for first-of-its-kind transplant in US

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PRE- & POST- OPERATIVE CARE

10 Ways to Attract More Women Into Surgery

A New Factor When Choosing a Surgeon

For Many, Life After Heart Surgery Is Surprisingly Hard

Anthony DiLemme, a high-school teacher in Redlands, Calif., faced a setback while recovering from surgery to implant a mechanical aortic valve. Doctors had to perform an emergency second surgery to replace the valve with a new one.   Photo: A. DiLemme
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Twitter
Join the STS/ESTS webinar starting at 1:00 pm ET. The program is for those starting a robotics program who want to learn the soft skills that can help improve patient outcomes. Free registration:…
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Shattering barriers to lung cancer screening. Supporting congenital heart patients through adulthood. Making an underserved “safety net” hospital a top transplanter. Revisit…
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Check out the new, interactive STS risk calculator for surgical repair of primary #mitral regurgitation. The tool can help CT…
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Tweets by @STS_CTSurgery
    The Patient Guide to Heart, Lung, and Esophageal Surgery
    A Website Presented by Cardiothoracic Surgeons Committed to Improving Patient Care

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    • Adult Heart Disease
      • Aortic Valve Disease
      • Coronary Artery Disease
      • Mitral Valve Disease
      • Tricuspid Valve Disease
      • Cardiac Rhythm Disturbances
      • Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
      • Aortic Dissection
      • Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
      • Atrial Fibrillation (Afib)
      • VA ECMO
      • Heart Failure
      • Adult Heart Transplantation
    • Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease
      • Atrial Septal Defect
      • Ventricular Septal Defect
      • Tetralogy of Fallot
      • Atrioventricular Canal Defect
      • Transposition of the Great Arteries
      • Coarctation of the Aorta
      • Truncus Arteriosus
      • Single Ventricle Defects
      • Patent Ductus Arteriosus
      • Pediatric Heart Transplantation
      • Pediatric Lung Transplantation
    • Lung, Esophageal, and Other Chest Diseases
      • Lung Cancer
      • Esophageal Cancer
      • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
      • Barrett’s Esophagus
      • Chest Wall Tumors
      • Mediastinal Tumors
      • Achalasia and Esophageal Motility Disorders
      • Pleural Diseases
      • Mesothelioma
      • VV ECMO
      • End-stage Lung Disease
      • Adult Lung Transplantation
    • Procedures
      • Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
      • Lobectomy
      • Ventricular Septal Defect Surgery
    • Before, During, and After Surgery
      • Before Heart Surgery
      • Day of Heart Surgery
      • After Heart Surgery
      • Before Lung Cancer Surgery
      • Day of Lung Cancer Surgery
      • After Lung Cancer Surgery
      • Before Congenital Heart Surgery
      • Day of Congenital Heart Surgery
      • After Congenital Heart Surgery