Thoracic Surgery Department was established in 2014 separated from Cardiothoracic Surgery Department in order to better service patients with thoracic diseases. The Cardiothoracic Surgery Department was founded in 1981, which is the medical key construction discipline in Zhejiang Province and the deputy leader unit of Cardiothoracic Surgery Group of Pediatric Surgery Branch of Chinese Medical Association. Thoracic Department has formed a profession team in the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic diseases, nearly half of surgeons with doctoral degree, and the rest with master degree. Many surgeons have been trained in international famous children's hospitals and institutions in the United States, Germany, Canada, etc. The department has taken the leading position in the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic diseases and is the member of the International Chest Wall Association. There are 15 beds and one chief physician, one associate chief physician, two attending physicians, and one resident in the department.

Since the completion of the first esophageal hiatal hernia and lobectomy in 1981, the number and quality of operations have been continuously improved. The main treatments currently include: the diagnosis and treatment of chest wall deformity (funnel chest, chicken breast, fork ribs, etc.), congenital lung disease (cystic adenoma-like malformation, isolated lung, pulmonary cyst, tracheal cyst, pulmonary bulla, etc.), thoracic mediastinal tumor (neurogenic tumors, teratoma, lymphangioma, pleural lung blastoma, etc.), diaphragm disease (posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia, posterior sternal hernia, swollen diaphragm, etc.), esophageal diseases (esophageal atresia, hiatal hernia, esophageal stricture after chemical burn, esophageal tracheal fistula, etc.), liquid pneumothorax, empyema. The annual operation volume of the department is more than 500, and the success rate of the operation reaches 99.8%.

Since the pediatric thoracoscopic surgery was carried out in 2004, the number of minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery in the department has been increasing, especially after 2014 independent from Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgeries have reached more than 85% of the total operation volume, which has taken the leading position of chest wall deformity and thoracoscopy in China. The department is the first in China to carry out 3D light scanning dynamic assessment of chest wall deformity and negative pressure noninvasive treatment of funnel chest technology, and established a noninvasive diagnosis and treatment of funnel chest system, which has greatly improved the quality of treatment and reduced the pain of children.

The department pays close attention to the clinical research work. More than 150 papers have been published, including 12 SCI papers, 1 IM paper, and over 50 papers in the first-level journals Chinese Journal of Surgery, Chinese Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Chinese Journal of Pediatric Surgery. The department has conducted 3 projects of National Natural Science Foundation, more than 20 projects of Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Department, Zhejiang Provincial Health Department, with a funding of more than 10 million RMB. Since the establishment of it in December 2014, the department has applied for 3 scientific research projects of Zhejiang Science and Technology Commission, 2 national invention patents, and 2 national papers.

The department has 15 beds and a professional nursing team with superb nursing skills to provide best care for patients. 

The main treatments currently include:

(1)  The diagnosis and treatment of chest wall deformity: funnel chest, chicken breast, fork ribs, etc.

(2) Congenital lung diseases: cystic adenoma-like malformation, isolated lung, pulmonary cyst, tracheal cyst, pulmonary bulla, etc.

(3) Thoracic mediastinal tumor: neurogenic tumors, teratoma, lymphangioma, pleural lung blastoma, etc.

(4) Diaphragm diseases: posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia, posterior sternal hernia, swollen diaphragm, etc.

(5) Esophageal diseases: esophageal atresia, hiatal hernia, esophageal stricture after chemical burn, esophageal tracheal fistula, etc.

(6) Liquid pneumothorax, empyema.

Featured Items:

 (1) Minimally invasive orthopedic surgery: funnel chest minimally invasive Nuss operation, chicken breast minimally invasive sternum settlement, etc.; carry out a non-invasive chest wall orthopedic evaluation and treatment system.

 (2) Thoracoscopic surgery in children: mediastinal tumor resection, thoracic tumor resection, lobectomy/segmentectomy, lung biopsy, diaphragmatic hernia repair, diaphragm folding, radical esophageal atresia, esophageal hiatus hernia repair, etc.

 (3) Pediatric Thoracic Rapid Rehabilitation (ERAS) technology (Tubelss operation (non-tubation), 3D-CTBA (three-dimensional bronchial vascular reconstruction technology) in precision segmentectomy)