Etymed
cardiothoracic surgery
Definition
Surgical treatment of conditions affecting the heart and chest organs
Clinical context
A 58-year-old male presents with severe angina and shortness of breath. Echocardiogram reveals severe coronary artery disease with left ventricular dysfunction. The patient requires coronary artery bypass grafting. A cardiothoracic surgeon performs the procedure to restore blood flow to the heart muscle. Post-operatively, the patient's symptoms improve significantly with improved exercise tolerance.
Mnemonic
C.T. Surgery = Chest and Heart Operations (Coronary, Thoracic, and cardiac procedures)