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. Maine has 18 practicing cardiothoracic surgeons. Broken out by city, cardiothoracic surgery doctor density in Auburn is 1, in Bangor is 4, in Belfast is 1, in Detroit is 1, in Lewiston is 3, in Portland is 7, in Presque Isle is 1, and in Waterville is 1.

When you think of Maine, you probably think of seafood. Maine’s 228 miles of coastline offer residents and tourists breathtaking coastal scenery and numerous summer water sports, though most tourists visit Maine in the warmer months. Ninety percent of the land in Maine is forested, and the Appalachian Trail begins in this state. The capital city is Augusta, and the population is 1,321, 505. Famous Maine citizens include author Stephen King, artist Andrew Wyeth, and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Maine has a population of 1,321,505. Of this population, 272,217 are under the age of 18 and 192,024 are at or above the age of 65.