Thoracic surgeons – who are often grouped with cardiac, or heart, specialists for cardiothoracic surgery – operate on the heart, lungs, oesophagus, and major blood vessels inside the chest, as well as the bony structures and tissues that form and support the chest cavity. Cardiologists diagnose disorders and perform interventions on the heart. However, they cannot perform open-heart surgeries. Cardiac surgeons concentrate on heart problems only, while cardiothoracic surgeons perform a wide range of surgeries on different organs in the thorax. Coronary artery disease is one of the most common diseases treated by cardiothoracic surgeons. General thoracic surgeons treat primarily lung cancer and diseases of the oesophagus and chest wall. Congenital heart surgeons care for babies and children with holes between the heart chambers or abnormal connections within the heart. Neuropathic pain after thoracic surgery, known as post-thoracotomy pain, is common and sometimes severe.

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