Thoracic surgery vs. Cardiac Surgery

[warpath]

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What's the difference between thoracic surgery and cardiac surgery. I saw a school that offers both and they seem to be different programs. What's the difference?

 

[Dr.Surgicool]

Well technically cardiac surgery falls under the field of thoracic surgery, but nowadays, cardiac surgery refers to surgery of the heart and aorta, and general thoracic surgery refers to all other chest surgery(Pneumonectomy, Lobectomy, Segmentectomy, Lung transplant(depending on institution), pleurectomy, etc.).