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The Section of General Thoracic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center continues a proud tradition of excellence and leadership. For over 75 years thoracic surgeons affiliated with Columbia University have pioneered in the treatment of chest diseases- including tuberculosis, chest wall deformities, cancer, myasthenia gravis and, most recently, emphysema and end-stage lung disease. Building and expanding upon this legacy of leadership, general thoracic surgery at Columbia University Medical Center has experienced remarkable growth over the past seven years. Our patients benefit from an integrated approach to the management of thoracic problems, including surgical management of lung cancer, hyperhydrosis, cystic fibrosis, COPD, esophageal disease intestitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis and thoracic outlet syndrome, among others. The coordinated efforts of a dedicated team of experienced surgeons, pulmonologists, cardiothoracic anesthesiologists, intensivists, surgical nurses, fellows and residents allow a smooth transition for our patients through our state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities and intensive care, step-down and thoracic surgical units. The routine use of thoracic epidural catheters throughout our service has enhanced our ability to provide for our patients a more rapid, comfortable convalescence. 
In 1996, the Section of General Thoracic Surgery was chosen to be a participating site in the NIH-sponsored clinical trial of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), a promising technique for patients with severe emphysema. Our selection makes us one of 18 sites nationally and the only designated center for this procedure in the tri-state region. Dr. Joshua R. Sonett now directs the lung transplant program. Since January 2001, 70 lung transplants have been performed with overall 4% 1 year mortality. Expected mortality nationwide is averaged at 15%. Led by Mark E. Ginsburg, MD and Lyall A. Gorenstein, MD, our efforts in LVRS began in 1994. We have performed the procedure on more than 150 patients with promising early results. In 1996, the Health Care Finance Administration classified LVRS as experimental and curtailed this activity nationally. Fortunately, prior to embarking on this novel program, we had assembled a strong multidisciplinary team consisting of pulmonologists, intensivists, rehabilitation specialists, chest radiologists and respiratory therapists. Policies, protocols and data collection methods had been formulated prior to instituting our program. This planning proved to be critical to our success. Based on the detailed data on all our patients, the early results we had achieved and compelling evidence of institutional commitment, our application was received favorably at the NIH, and we were chosen to participate in this exciting new longitudinal study. In many respects, our progress in LVRS exemplifies the pioneering work thoracic surgeons have performed at CUMC for more than 75 years. We have achieved notable accomplishments in the treatment of tuberculosis, emphysema, chest wall deformities, lung cancer, esophageal disease, and myasthenia gravis. Today, we are leaders in lung transplant surgery and routinely perform minimally invasive procedures, such as video-assisted thoracic surgery. Activity in the section has continued to increase, encompassing all aspects of general thoracic surgery. In 1997, our volume surpassed 500 cases for the first time, more than a threefold increase in the past five years. Patient care is our greatest strength. We believe that all our patients are special; our staff goes out of its way to serve their needs on an individual basis. We have been very involved in the Department of Surgery's customer-focused initiatives, and we are committed to integrating the highest quality and compassion in patient care. In teaching, we now have three residents assigned to the division, up from one just a few years ago. We take our teaching mission as a solemn responsibility and have designed a curriculum that includes lectures, case analysis and patient care. For our cardiothoracic fellow, we offer an especially intense program, including analysis of complex thoracic surgical problems, evaluation of the appropriate surgical techniques to care for them and hands-on surgery with the attending staff. Going forward, we are emphasizing outreach and relationship building; in fact, we want to make it a strength of Columbia University Medical Center. We anticipate continuing our program of lectures at area hospitals and dialogue with our colleagues there to let them know we're ready to help in any way we can. As we bond more strongly with other institutions, both community and university hospitals, it enhances us all and, more importantly, results in better patient care.
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| ©1999-2007. Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Surgery, New York, NY. |
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