Cardiothoracic Surgery refers to operations that treat diseases affecting the heart (cardio) and lungs (thoracic).

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Mesothelioma, lung cancer, Congenital heart disease, lung disease, pectus excavatum, thymoma, Aortic aneurysm, cardiovascular disease, Esophageal carcinoma, Pulmonary metastases, Chest wall tumors, esophageal diseases, Tracheal tumors, Malignant pleural effusions, and thoracic neoplasms.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Lobectomy, Mediastinoscopy, mitral valve replacement, lung transplantation, Ventricular assist device, lung volume reduction, Aortic dissection, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, Mitral valve repair, Heart Transplantation, Miniminally invasive surgery (MIS), Ventricular Restoration (Dor Procedure), Video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS), Bullectomy, arrhythmia surgery, and thoracic aorta repairs.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including biopsy, x-ray, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), Upper GI (Barium Swallow), Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), and physicial examination.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Georgia has 111 practicing cardiothoracic surgeons. Broken out by city, cardiothoracic surgery doctor density in Albany is 3, in Alpharetta is 1, in Athens is 4, in Atlanta is 51, in Augusta is 11, in Austell is 1, in Blairsville is 1, in Calhoun is 1, in Columbus is 2, in Conyers is 1, in Cordele is 1, in Cumming is 1, in Decatur is 4, in Douglasville is 3, in Duluth is 1, in Fayetteville is 1, in Fort Gordon is 1, in Gainesville is 11, in Glenwood is 1, in Greensboro is 1, in Hinesville is 1, in Lithonia is 1, in Macon is 10, in Marietta is 12, in Martinez is 2, in Milledgeville is 1, in Moultrie is 1, in Peachtree City is 1, in Reidsville is 1, in Rome is 3, in Savannah is 6, in Sharpsburg is 1, in Stockbridge is 1, in Swainsboro is 1, in Tifton is 1, in Valdosta is 5, in Vidalia is 2, in Villa Rica is 2, in Warner Robins is 1, and in Woodstock is 1.

Georgia is rich in history, from its statehood in 1788, to its tobacco plantations, to its civil rights memorials. Atlanta is its vibrant capital city, and it offers a myriad of music, arts, sports and nightlife. While in Atlanta, visit the world’s largest aquarium, the Woodruff Arts Center, or the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Ride the Old Town Trolley in Savannah, and listen to some live jazz and blues at one of Savannah’s many festivals. Georgia’s mountain parks offer hiking, biking, climbing, and other outdoor activities. On Georgia’s coastline, you can go boating, deep sea fishing or kayaking in the Atlantic. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge draws many visitors yearly.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Georgia has a population of 9,072,576. Of this population, 2,319,806 are under the age of 18 and 865,997 are at or above the age of 65.