Cardiovascular Thoracic are two types of different medical specialization’s which have been grouped into a specific type of medical specialists named the Cardiothoracic Surgeons. The term Cardiothoracic is generally used in only a few counties which are the United States of America, United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
A cardiothoracic surgeon focuses on the thorax which is the chest are of the human body and typically focus on the heart, great vessels and the lungs of the human body. The best way to understand this is by understanding how both of these fields work, and how they work well together.
What is a Cardiac Surgeon?
The Cardiac (Cardiovascular) Surgeon operates on the heart and the great vessels.
A Cardiovascular surgeon will frequently work on complications of the heart such as a bypass, congenital heart disease and often treat valvular heart diseases from various causes which includes but isn’t limited to endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease and atherosclerosis.
This type of surgeon will also work on heart transplants. A cardiac surgeon is also responsible in most of the operation process including anesthesia, cutting and stitching of the patient under the knife and also need to be there after the patient has recovered. Most work done by a Cardiac Surgeon is life threatening and requires a passion to do with consistency in doing it right all the time.
What is a Thoracic Surgeon?
Thoracic surgery is a field in medicine which involves surgically treating diseases affecting organs located in the thorax (Chest). Treatments of conditions in the lungs, chest wall and diaphragm are the most common. This type of Surgeon is often seen working in a Cardiac environment as well. Thoracic surgeons are also commonly seen with cancer patients.
As seen in the above descriptions, this is where the term Cardiovascular Thoracic or Cardiothoracic if you will came from but as previously said, these terms are generally only grouped together in a few countries.
Cardiothoracic Surgeons are on demand, mainly due to the limited resources available, studies show that from the years 2008 to 2018 (a decade) that we’re going to need up to 22% more surgeons but we’ve actually been in shortfall. One of the main reasons there isn’t many cardiothoracic surgeons is due to the amount of studying required to become one.
It takes over a decade, studying in college and uni, not to mention placement and hours of experience and accreditation’s and certificates required to become a Cardiovascular Thoracic surgeon.
The Cardiovascular Thoracic surgeon will also be known to work in a pediatric environment which means working with young children. Even though we’re in shortfall, over the past few years there have been many more medical students interested in becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon which will hopefully fill the increasing demand required by today’s world.
A career in Cardiothoracic Surgery is both rewarding and difficult so it’s definitely a great field to get in if you have the determination to go all the way.