Chest & lung conditions

When you have pain, shortness of breath, or other signs of a chest or lung condition, you can feel confident you’re in the right place for your care at Aurora.

People from all 50 states and around the globe come to us for our specialized diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases and lung disorders. And for good reason. These conditions can be extremely complicated and can affect multiple organs like your lungs and heart. Our experts from across all disciplines work closely together on your precise diagnosis and care plan using the most advanced technologies in thoracic medicine.

Plus, doctors from all over the world come to us to learn about robot-assisted thoracic surgery and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). In fact, we’re one of only a handful of national case observation sites for robotic thoracic surgery.

What are chest & lung conditions?

Chest and lung conditions, which include esophageal disorders, are often called thoracic conditions. These conditions include a broad group of issues that affect your throat and esophagus, aorta (your body’s main artery), heart, lungs, ribs, or other structures in the chest.

At Aurora, a team of specialists work together to care for you. Our thoracic doctors partner closely with our cancer experts, gastroenterologists, physical therapists, and other specialists to precisely diagnose your condition and coordinate your care. Your team may include general thoracic surgeons or cardiovascular surgeons who treat chest and lung conditions that involve the heart.

Learn more about our thoracic surgery program.

Understanding the types of chest & lung conditions

We treat all types of chest and lung conditions, even the most complex. Types of conditions include:

• Esophageal conditions
  • Achalasia, a muscle problem between your esophagus and stomach
  • Esophageal and swallowing problems
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Hiatal hernia, when the upper part of your stomach bulges through the large muscle between your abdomen and chest

• Chest & rib conditions
  • Chest wall tumors
  • Diaphragm paralysis
  • Empyema, pus buildup from a lung infection
  • Myasthenia gravis, a neurological disorder treated by removing the thymus gland
  • Mesothelioma, a type of cancer
  • Rib pain and chest wall pain
• Lung conditions
  • Collapsed lung
  • Interstitial lung disease, progressive lung tissue scarring
  • Lung cancer
  • Pleural effusion, a buildup of fluid between your lung and chest wall that’s commonly treated with thoracentesis
  • Pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in your lung
  • Pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in the arteries in your lungs that can be expertly treated at our specialized Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic
  • Tuberculosis

Symptoms of chest & lung conditions

Each chest and lung condition has its own symptoms. However, see your doctor if you have any of these general symptoms for this group of conditions:

• Coughing, with or without mucus or blood
• Rib, chest or lung pain
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble swallowing

Diagnosis of chest & lung conditions

To pinpoint your condition and treatment options, your doctor will start with a thorough physical exam, review your medical history, and ask about your symptoms.

We’ll likely order some diagnostic tests for you, too. Find out more about how our advanced technology and specialized expertise help us diagnose chest and lung conditions.

Treatment of chest & lung conditions

Depending on your condition, your treatment plan may include medication, minimally invasive procedures, or surgery. Whenever possible, we’ll use minimally invasive procedures so you’ll have less pain, less time in the hospital, and faster healing.

Find out more about our state-of-the-art minimally invasive and surgical options to treat chest and lung conditions.