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Thoracic surgery
Our role
Established in 1979 as Belgium's first non-cardiac thoracic surgery department, the H.U.B.'s thoracic surgery department has a specific focus on improving the diagnosis and surgical treatment of thoracic pathologies affecting the lung, thymus or chest wall.
We offer multidisciplinary care for all thoracic oncological and non-oncological pathologies.
Our specialities
The H.U.B. Interhospital Department of Thoracic Surgery focuses on four major activities that correspond to various types of pathology:
- The thoracic cancer pathology covers the multidisciplinary treatment of lung cancer and other thoracic cancers: mesotheliom a, thymoma and pulmonary metastases. Bridging the Jules Bordet Institute and the Erasmus Hospital, these interventions represent the greater part of the department’s activities.
- The functional thoracic pathology covers in particular surgery of malformations of the thoracic wall, emphysema surgery (reduction in pulmonary volume) and surgical treatment of the pneumothorax and thoracic traumas.
- Lung transplants are organised within the Reference Centre for Cystic Fibrosis and Lung Transplants, jointly with the Pneumology Department.
- Cervical surgery covers surgery of the thyroid and trachea.
Our team
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Our medical specialists
Dr.
Youri
Sokolow
Dr.
Maria
Ruiz Patino
Focus
The H.U.B. Interhospital Department of Thoracic Surgery was a pioneer in the field of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS). This surgical method is less invasive and makes it possible to avoid major surgery through large openings. This reduces the risk of complications and the period of hospitalisation with a more rapid post-operative recovery.
Research
The H.U.B.’s thoracic surgery and pneumology teams work together on treating early stage lung cancer. The aim is to reduce the quantity of lung tissue that has to be removed. To this end they have developed a combined endoscopic and surgical approach to the treatment of small nodules.