San Diego lung (thoracic) surgery

• Tracheal stenosis

• Tracheal tumor

• Tracheobronchomalacia

• Chest wall malignancies (sarcoma)

• Congenital lung disease

• Pectus carinatum

• Pectus excavatum

• Achalasia

• Barrett's esophagus

• Esophageal achalasia

• Esophageal disease

• Esophageal cancer

• Esophageal (Zenker’s) diverticulum

• Esophageal duplication cyst

• Esophageal motility

• Gastroesophageal junction cancer

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

• Hiatal hernia

• Leiomyoma

• Paraesophageal hernia

• Peptic stricture

• Schatzki's ring

• D9078C00001, A Phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Randomised, Multicentre, International Study of Durvalumab Plus Oleclumab and Durvalumab Plus Monalizumab in Patients With Locally Advanced (Stage III), Unresectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Who Have Not Progressed Following Definitive, Platinum-Based Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy (PACIFIC-9) (NCT05221840), AstraZeneca

• FALCON, Ethnicity and Lung Cancer Survival: A Test of the Hispanic Sociocultural Hypothesis, University of Arizona. This study is not a clinical trial and is only observational. For more information, please contact a Sharp clinical trials specialist at 858-939-4030 or ClinicalOncologyResearch@sharp.com.

• Malignant:

  • Mediastinal mass (Germ cell tumor; Thymoma)

  • Neurogenic tumor

  • Paraganglioma

  • Schwannoma

• Benign:

  • Bronchogenic cyst

  • Mediastinal cyst

  • Myasthenia gravis

• Fibrothorax

• Hemothorax

• Mesothelioma

• Pericardial cyst

• Pericardial effusion

• Pleural effusion

• Pleural tumor

At Sharp HealthCare, our Thoracic (Lung) Surgery Program is available at two of our acute-care hospitals in San Diego — Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital.

Our expert thoracic teams collaborate closely with staff in pulmonary medicine, gastroenterology, medical and radiation oncology, neurology and cardiovascular surgery.

We're here to walk you through this journey, and we're committed to providing you with high-quality, evidence-based care in a warm, soothing environment.

There are two simple ways to find the right doctor for you:

• Search online for a thoracic surgeon with our quick, easy-to-use Find a Doctor tool. 

• Call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm, to speak with one of our specially trained physician referral nurses. They know our doctors and can help you find the perfect fit.

In some cases, you will need a referral from your primary care doctor.

Some medical groups offer direct access to certain types of specialists. And some health plans, such as PPOs, offer direct access to all specialists. Contact your health plan's member services department to confirm your coverage.

If you are an existing patient with a Sharp-affiliated thoracic surgeon (meaning you have seen your doctor at least once), simply call the doctor’s office to make an appointment.

Sharp accepts almost all health insurance plans, including Medicare, Medi-Cal and most managed care and private insurance plans.

Be sure to check with your insurance company to verify specific coverage. Insurance companies frequently add new plans, and update provider networks and covered services under existing plans.

Cardiothoracic surgery includes surgery on the heart as well as other structures within the chest (thorax). Thoracic surgery might not include surgery on the heart.

You should seek care from a thoracic surgeon when your primary care doctor or other doctor refers you to one. Your doctor may refer you to a thoracic surgeon if you have a disease, disorder or condition that requires chest surgery. A thoracic surgeon is an expert in surgery on the heart, lungs, esophagus, diaphragm and trachea (windpipe).

Patients with early-stage lung cancer are often good candidates for robotic surgery. Some patients are not candidates for less invasive procedures; therefore, traditional approaches will be used. Your surgeons will discuss the best options for you.

Hospital stays often are based on how well you manage pain and recovery. Generally, patients return home 24 to 72 hours after surgery.

The ability to drive depends on the medication you need to take for pain control. If you are on narcotic medications, you may not drive or operate heavy machinery. 

You will develop a plan with your surgeon regarding when you can return to work. Depending on the nature of work and the surgery performed, patients often return to work from 1 to 2 weeks to 2 months. After robotic-assisted lung surgeries, there is also additional recovery and rehabilitation time needed.