Problems of the lung and airway affect normal respiratory functioning, making breathing difficult. They may be caused by an underlying illness, an injury or infection, or be the side-effect of cancer treatment.
The Division of Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) offers comprehensive testing and advanced treatment for patients with diseases and conditions of the lung and airway, from more routine conditions to rare and complex diseases. We treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tracheomalacia and emphysema, empyema and pleural effusion, pneumothorax/collapsed lung and also specialize in tracheal and bronchial disorders, benign or cancerous.
Our board-certified thoracic surgeons have sub-specialty training and years of experience in the diagnosis and surgical management of lung and airway conditions, with particular expertise in minimally invasive techniques such as endoscopic therapies and video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). All of our surgeons are faculty at Harvard Medical School and many are physician-researchers at the forefront of new therapies and cures—advancing their studies from laboratory to direct patient care.
Through the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Lung Center, We collaborate with specialists throughout BWH and communicate openly with patients and families to create care plans that consider individual needs. Along with a supportive clinical and administrative staff, we work as one cohesive team to provide the best possible care for each patient. Patients with Airway disorders are treated in collaboration with interventional pulmonologists, chest radiologists, pathologists and other specialized pulmonologists utilizing innovative technologies for imaging and therapy.
In addition, patients have full access to world-renowned Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Thoracic surgery services are available at Brigham and Women’s Hospital main campus, at Milford Regional Medical Center in Milford, and in Weymouth at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center in clinical affiliation with South Shore Hospital.
