Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery is a surgical specialty treating diseases and trauma affecting organs inside the thorax (the chest) including the lungs, heart, and thoracic diaphragm.

Notable Cardiothoracic Surgeons

 * Dr. Preston Burke (former Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital)
 * Dr. Erica Hahn (former Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital, Former Surgeon at Seattle Presbyterian Hospital)
 * Professor Colin Marlow (Visiting Professor from Stanford University School of Medicine, Candidate for Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital)
 * Dr. Virginia Dixon (Visiting Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Seattle Grace Hospital)
 * Dr. Noah Barnes (Attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon at St. Ambrose Hospital)
 * Dr. Teddy Altman (Chief of Staff at MEDCOM, former Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital and former US Army Surgeon)
 * Dr. Sam Bennett (Staff Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Seaside Health and Wellness)
 * Dr. Tom Evans (Visiting Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital)
 * Dr. Cristina Yang (Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellow at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital)
 * Dr. Jeff Russell (Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital)
 * Dr. Goldman (Attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital)
 * Dr. McQueen (Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellow at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital)
 * Dr. Darren Parker (Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mayo Clinic)
 * Dr. Craig Thomas (Attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Mayo Clinic)
 * Dr. Park (Attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon at UCLA)
 * Dr. Campbell (Attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon at St. Ambrose Hospital)
 * Dr. Joshua Moore (Attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Mayo Clinic)
 * Dr. John Davies (Attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Seattle Grace Hospital)

Surgical Procedures

 * Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG): Artieries and veins from elsewhere in the body (most cases the leg) are used to replace or used alongside the coronary vessels in the body (the vessels that supply oxygen and energy to the heart)
 * Thoracotomy: Cutting into the chest to gain access to the thoracic organs. Usually performed by a surgeon as the start of their procedure, but sometimes performed in the ER or in the field by ER physicians or paramedics to clamp the aorta to prevent major blood loss.

Season Two

 * Thorocotomy: Following a G.S.W. to the chest, in an elevator (Bring the Pain): Due to the elevator being stuck between floors caused by a powercut, George O'Malley has to open up the chest to resolve the bleeding and 'plug' any holes until the patient could be taken to an OR and Dr. Burke.

Season Four

 * Ectopia Cordis Repair (Piece of My Heart): Addison returns to Seattle Grace to deal with a pregnant women who's child is diagnosed with ectopia cordis - his heart has grown outside his body. Addison delivers the child, Hahn works to place the heart inside the chest and Sloan closes using a skin flap grown from the child's own skin.

Notes and Trivia

 * There are 120 cardiothoracic surgery fellowship spots in the country.
 * Cardiothoracic is often shortened to "cardio" and sometimes shortened to "CT".