Thoracic (Chest) Surgery at St. Luke’s
Division of Thoracic Surgery at St. Luke's
The surgeons and staff of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at St. Luke's treat diseases of the chest, including lung cancer and disorders of the esophagus. We have a team of devoted surgeons, mid-level practitioners, and ancillary staff, who are committed to excellence in:
Patient Care: We provide clinical excellence in our practice from the treatment of thoracic malignancies or benign esophageal diseases to the treatment of hyperhidrosis (excessive hand sweating). We offer a multidisciplinary approach to lung and esophageal cancer as well as the most advanced diagnostic and treatment options currently available.
Research: We are members of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) and can offer participation in many of the national clinical trials available for lung and esophageal cancer.
Only Dedicated Thoracic Surgeons in the Lehigh Valley
Unlike the majority of hospitals, where general or cardiac surgeons perform thoracic procedures, St. Luke’s is home to two thoracic surgeons who focus exclusively on lung cancer and general thoracic oncology surgery. Drs. William R. Burfeind Jr. and Matthew M. Puc perform a high volume of procedures for chest malignancies and repair each year and are the only dedicated thoracic surgeons in the Lehigh Valley.
Thoracic surgical procedures include:
Thoracoscopic Wedge Resections – the removal of a nodule and a thin rim of normal lung tissue (margin) using two small incisions and a videoscope
Thoracoscopic Lobectomies – During a thorascopic lobectomy, a surgeon uses a small, lighted instrument to remove the lobe of the lung in which a tumor is located. This is done to prevent recurrence of the tumor. In addition, the surgeon removes the lymph glands to determine the stage of the cancer.
Thoracoscopic Thymectomy – The removal of the thymus gland, an organ located in the upper chest that helps in the production of T-cells, which help the body fight infection. During a thorascopic thymectomy, the surgeon uses a small, lighted instrument to remove the gland.
Thoracoscopic Resection of Esophageal Leiomyomas – Benign tumors of the esophagus. During this thorascopic resection, a surgeon uses a small, lighted instrument to remove the tumors.
Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomies – Hyperhidrosis is a disease that causes excessive sweating in the armpits or hands. During this procedure, a surgeon uses small, lighted instruments that contain cameras to remove part of the sympathetic nervous system.