Thoracic Surgery

Milford Regional has partnered with Brigham and Women’s Hospital to provide world class thoracic surgery on our campus since 2002. Patients can access advanced care, experienced staff and proven safety found in large academic teaching hospitals without the hassle of traffic and parking in Boston. The partnership with Brigham and Women’s Hospital provides our thoracic surgery patients the combination of excellence in clinical care and cutting edge research opportunities made available only through this unique relationship.

Milford Regional's thoracic surgery team is committed to providing a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services for patients with benign and malignant disorders of the lung, esophagus and foregut, mediastinum (space between the lungs) and trachea. In addition, all of our patients have access to highly experienced specialists in surgery, medical oncology, pulmonary, radiation oncology, and radiology.

Our thoracic surgeons offer innovative and minimally invasive surgical treatments (videothoracoscopy, brachytherapy and laser bronchoscopy) as well as traditional surgical procedures. Our surgeons continually work to enhance and improve surgical treatments as new scientific advancements develop. They are committed to providing the highest standard of care with the utmost compassion and respect for their patients.

In thoracic surgery, the most common procedure, video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), involves the insertion of a thoracoscope (a tiny camera) and surgical instruments into very small incisions in the chest. This allows the operation to be viewed on a video monitor and the surgical procedure can be performed in a focused effort on the diseased area with less trauma to surrounding tissues. Minimally invasive thoracic surgery reduces post-operative pain and provides a much quicker recovery time. Most thoracic surgeries are performed in this manner making it much more comfortable for the patient.

Some thoracic procedures still require traditional surgery depending on the extent of disease and the nature of the treatment; the more complex the treatment, the more difficult it is to apply tiny incisions to remove dangerous tumors. However, all surgical options are considered and our goal is to perform surgical procedures in the most patient focused and friendly manner as possible.

The areas of the chest that are treated by our thoracic surgeons include:

Lung

Esophagus & Foregut

Trachea