We have some of the world’s best thoracic surgeons at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals. They continuously advance minimally invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of lung conditions, including lung cancer.
World-leading expertise in lung care
Our commitment to innovation in thoracic surgery has led to Royal Brompton Hospital being ranked 5th in the world for lung care by US Newsweek, the American weekly news magazine.
We are specialists in thoracic surgery for lung cancer, COPD and chest deformities.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
We collaborate closely with Royal Marsden Hospital in the care of lung cancer patients to ensure a coordinated approach to medical and surgical therapies. We excel in minimally invasive surgery for lung cancer, for improved recovery and outcomes.
VATS is a keyhole lung surgical technique that enables our consultants to remove lung cancer via a small 3cm incision in the chest, avoiding open chest surgery. We use advanced PlasmaJet technology for our VATS procedures that can remove cancer cells without damaging surrounding healthy lung tissues.
The VIOLET study, which our consultants led, demonstrated that patients undergoing VATS experience less pain, better physical function and fewer complications when compared to traditional open chest surgery.
Lung volume reduction for COPD
We are experts in lung volume reduction for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Surgical lung volume reduction is one of interventions that improves survival in those with this condition, in addition to improving quality of life.
Minimally invasive bronchoscopic (via the airways) techniques are evolving and our specialists are actively advancing this field. Learn more about our minimally invasive Rejuvenair procedure for COPD and targeted lung denervation treatment for COPD with chronic bronchitis.
Cryotherapy pain relief for chest surgery
The recovery process from open chest surgery can be challenging as it is often associated with pain that requires medication. Our thoracic surgeons offer a new type of cryotherapy treatment to relieve pain following chest surgery.
A cryotherapy device is used to apply cold temperatures directly to nerves involved in pain perception during a procedure. This offers up to 6 months of pain relief, by which time the affected area has usually healed and the pain is no longer there.
Chest deformity correction
Chest deformities are a rare problem for teenagers but can affect their self-esteem. They can also result in functional difficulties for their heart and lungs.
Our thoracic surgeons use minimally invasive surgical and non-surgical techniques for the treatment of pectus excavatum (‘funnel chest’) and pectus carinatum (‘pigeon chest’) to safely return chests to a normal shape.
Conditions
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a group of conditions that affect your breathing and quality of life. Learn how to effectively manage your symptoms.
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Congenital lung malformation
Congenital lung malformation: Symptoms, causes and treatments
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Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a condition caused when the cells that make up the tissue of the lungs become abnormal and grow into a tumour.
Treatments
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Breathe again: New severe emphysema treatments
Thanks to innovative new treatments, our consultants can give chronic emphysema patients a new lease on life with endobronchial valves, lung volume reduction coils, and lung volume reduction surgery.
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Single port VATS lobectomy
Our experts continue to push the boundaries, developing less invasive treatments to successfully treat complex lung cancers.
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Targeted lung denervation: Treatment for COPD patients
Investigations
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Diagnostic tests for lung conditions
Our advanced, high-quality diagnostic facilities can help rapidly diagnose lung conditions.
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Ion robotic-assisted lung cancer biopsy
Robotic-assisted technology allows respiratory specialists to sample very small lung tumours.
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Lung cancer risk assessment
Our world-leading specialists can assess your risk of developing lung cancer during a consultation.
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Lung health assessment
Our lung health assessment service is accessible to patients with a range of symptoms, including breathlessness, cough, chest pain, and wheezing.
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PET-CT and nuclear medicine
PET-CT and nuclear medicine scans use small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose a variety of diseases.
Locations
Our thoracic surgeons provide care at these locations:
Discover our thoracic surgeons
Our thoracic surgeons are world-leading experts who offer the most innovative treatments and are pioneers in their field