Discover the World of Heart Heroes: Top 9 Fun Facts About Cardiothoracic Surgeons

1. Iron Man-worthy Heart Surgeons

Like a real-life Tony Stark performing Iron Man-worthy heart surgeries, Dr. Gabriel Loor and his fellow cardiothoracic surgeons at St. Luke's repair, replace, and revitalize the most vital of organs: The St. Luke's heart transplant program has flourished, boasting a 94% one-year survival rate among patients who received new hearts in 2016 and 2017, thanks to these skilled and dedicated cardiovascular wizards.
Source => propublica.org

2. Philosophers with Scalpels

Did you hear about the cardiac surgeons who became professional philosophers over a cup of tea and a scalpel? Their impressive debating skills are no laughing matter: Cardiothoracic surgeons are renowned experts in ethical decision-making, with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American Association for Thoracic Surgery organizing meetings and publishing papers on ethical topics in the realm of cardiac, vascular, and general surgery.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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=> Fun Facts about Anesthesiologists

3. Pit-Crew Mechanics of Life

Surgeons with a heart (and lung!) of gold repairing tickers and inflating air sacs as if they were efficient pit-crew mechanics in the world's most important race, the race of life: Cardiothoracic surgeons are masters of operating on hearts, lungs, and esophagi, sometimes even transplanting said organs, clocking in impressively long hours to save lives and make a huge impact on the well-being of their patients.
Source => medschoolinsiders.com

4. COVID-19 Medical Miracles

With a twist of Dr. Frankenstein's ingenuity and a touch of MacGyver's resourcefulness, NYU Langone Health's cardiothoracic surgeons whipped up some life-saving techniques during the COVID-19 pandemic: They pioneered innovative procedures like percutaneous tracheostomy and bronchoscopy, which helped patients breathe easier and reduce ventilator dependency, while also employing veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) to treat more than 40% of critical COVID-19 cases that didn't respond to conventional treatments - a true modern-day medical miracle!
Source => nyulangone.org

5. Mending Broken Hearts

While cardiothoracic surgeons may not have the "brain power" to dive into the gray matter, they certainly have the "heart" to mend a broken one: These surgeons utilize minimally invasive techniques to treat chest ailments, such as repairing damaged heart valves and addressing coronary artery disease, making them an essential part of the medical community focused on heart, lung, and chest-related issues.
Source => climbtheladder.com

6. Lemon-Squeezing Life-Savers

When life gives you lemons, cardiothoracic surgeons squeeze them into life-saving elixirs: The powerhouse of NewYork-Presbyterian & Weill Cornell Medicine is ranked #4 in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery Hospital in the nation and #1 in NYC by U.S. News and World Report, conducting clinical trials to test new treatments for heart, lung, and esophageal diseases with a focus on technical innovations to achieve miraculous improvements in patients' lives. To top it off, they've bagged America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery Award™ and America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care Award™ by Healthgrade!
Source => ctsurgery.weillcornell.org

7. MRI-Assisted Photo Finish

Ever hear of a "photo finish" in racing? Well, cardiothoracic surgeons have their own version of it, starring none other than MRI technology: These medical magicians rely on high-definition Magnetic Resonance Imaging to diagnose and plan out surgeries for heart and lung conditions, ensuring they have the most precise road map and improving patient outcomes like true champions.
Source => zippia.com

8. Seamstresses with a Heartbeat

Cardiothoracic surgeons are like skilled seamstresses with a heartbeat, weaving in and out of living fabric as they darn the delicate threads of life: These surgeons utilize various sizes of sutures to sew up beating hearts during procedures, and employ customized plates and screws for sternum repair, continuously updating their techniques to reduce patient recovery time.
Source => popularmechanics.com

9. Surgical Ninjas

What do cardiothoracic surgeons and ninjas have in common? They both love sneaking in and out without too much fuss! Here's how they do it in the operating room: these skilled surgeons use minimally invasive techniques for off-pump CABG surgery, making smaller incisions through the ribs, reducing pain and recovery time for the patient like a true ninja master.
Source => hopkinsmedicine.org