What is cardiothoracic surgery?
Cardiothoracic surgery is performed on the organs within your thoracic (chest) cavity, such as the heart and lungs. Some surgeons choose to specialise in either cardiac surgery or thoracic surgery, but many perform both types.
Cardiothoracic surgery exists closely alongside cardiology and respiratory medicine. You may initially visit a consultant in one of these departments but be referred to cardiothoracic surgery if your condition requires more invasive treatment.
Our expert cardiothoracic team
Alongside our world-class cardiothoracic surgeons – including cardiothoracic surgeons from across the UK and London – we have a dedicated team of healthcare professionals ready to assist with your surgery and recovery, including cardiac anaesthetists, clinical nurse specialists (CNS), an intensive care team, physiotherapists, dietitians and more.
Our cardiothoracic surgeons and supporting clinical staff hold regular multidisciplinary meetings to discuss patient cases and appropriate treatment plans, ensuring the best health outcomes possible.
Cardiothoracic conditions we treat
We treat a broad spectrum of conditions affecting organs within the chest, including cancer, heart disease, valvular disease, pleural disease, and more.
Not all heart and lung conditions will require surgical treatment – many can be treated using medication or minimally invasive procedures. You will only be offered cardiothoracic surgery if your condition requires more complex treatment.
Surgical diagnostic tests
You are likely to have any non-invasive or minimally invasive diagnostic tests within our cardiology or respiratory departments before being referred to cardiothoracic surgery.
Depending on the type and severity of your symptoms, you may be required to have a surgical diagnostic procedure, such as a biopsy or angiogram. Invasive procedures are carried out by our specialist team at Cromwell Hospital.
Cardiothoracic surgeries we offer
With a distinguished team of cardiothoracic surgeons, including experts from London, we are one of few private hospitals in the UK to provide cardiothoracic surgery using minimally invasive (keyhole) techniques, including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafts. The potential benefits of these innovative approaches, overseen by our skilled cardiothoracic surgeons in London, include faster recovery times and reduced scarring.
We also perform traditional open-heart surgeries, as well as robotically assisted surgeries.
Clinical interests: Minimally invasive (Keyhole) thoracic surgery (Video assisted and Robotic Surgery), Lung Cancer, Thymic malignancy and myasthenia gravis, Airway Interventions; Bronchoscopy, , Laser, Stenting. Pleural disease; Pneumothorax, Pleural effusion, Infection of the pleura /empyema. Mesiastinal surgery, Rib Fractures.
Languages spoken: Arabic/English
Clinical interests: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery; coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), including OPCAB, MIDCAB, and CABG; minimally invasive valve procedures, including aortic and mitral valve repair and replacement; and complex aortic procedures, including type A aortic dissection repair, aortic root replacement, and total arch replacement.
Languages spoken: Arabic/English
Mr Andrea Bille
/ Consultant Thoracic Surgeon
Cardiothoracic surgery, Thoracic surgery, Robotic Surgery
Clinical interests: Chest wall resection and reconstruction; Complex thoracic resection; Diaphragmatic hernia or paralysis; Empyema; Hyperhidrosis surgery; Lung cancer surgery (lobectomy and segmentectomy); Mediastinal tumors; Mesothelioma; Pneumothorax; Pleural effusion; Pleural biopsy; Rib fracture and fixation; Robotic surgery; Thoracic endometriosis, Thymoma (early and advanced stage); VATS surgery
Languages spoken: English/Italian
Clinical interests: Keyhole and minimally invasive surgery, heart valve repair and replacement, coronary artery surgery, and heart bypass surgery.
Languages spoken: English
Clinical interests: Minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery, minimal access valve surgery, and beating heart surgery.
Languages spoken: English/Italian
Clinical interests: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery, valvular heart surgery, off-pump CABG, aortic valve repair or replacement, and mitral valve repair or replacement.
Languages spoken: English
Clinical interests: Aortic surgery, coronary artery surgery, thoracic surgery, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), surgery for lung cancer
Languages spoken: English/French
Clinical interests: Adult thoracic surgery; surgery for primary lung cancer, including minimally invasive video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy and VATS anatomical segmentectomy; tracheobronchial surgery; primary and metastatic chest sarcoma; surgery for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); and airway stenting.
Languages spoken: English
Clinical interests: Heart valve disease; Arterial revascularisation; Coronary artery bypass graft surgery; Aortic valve replacement; Aortic root replacement; Mitral valve surgery; Ascending aorta replacement; Surgery for atrial fibrillation; Surgery for cardiac tumours; Acute aortic dissections; Minimally invasive valve surgery.
Languages spoken: English/Hindi/Punjabi/Urdu
Clinical interests: Endothelial dysfunction, mini cardiopulmonary bypass, CRP, leptin, and coronary artery patency rates.
Languages spoken: English/Gujarati/Urdu
