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Cardiothoracic Surgery is a surgical specialty which focuses on the chest cavity and the organs inside, which include the heart and vascular system, the oesophagus, the lungs and trachea, the diaphragm and chest wall. It studies the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the cardiothoracic region, and the surgical procedures which manage and treat traumatic injury, or acute, congenital, and acquired cardiothoracic disorders.

Cardiothoracic subspecialties include: Cardiac, Thoracic and Congenital Cardiac Surgery.

Cardiothoracic Surgery Jobs

Cardiothoracic Surgeons perform operations on the chest and heart of patients. They monitor patients in intensive care and diagnose, manage and treat cardiac and thoracic conditions. Typical operations they perform are coronary bypasses, removing tumours and keyhole thoracic surgery. Cardiothoracic surgeons attain Specialist Registration and Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) by undertaking the Cardiothoracic SET Program, a 6-year RACS program which involves instruction, courses and examinations and builds clinical practice and knowledge. Cardio-thoracic Surgeons work in multi-disciplinary clinical teams. They provide leadership, train surgeon registrars, and contribute to research and development. They work in hospitals and private clinics in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Registrar (Surgical Specialty - Cardiothoracic Surgery) are registered doctors who have completed their medical degree and pre-vocational training (internship and residency/PGY2-3). They have attained general registration with AHPRA and can now undertake specialist/or vocational training positions to broaden and refine their scope of practice and gain experience, skills and competency in their chosen area of medicine. Registrars are very important members of the integrated and multi-disciplinary health care team. They have increasing responsibility for patient care, oversee and support junior doctors and staff, participate in professional development activities and continue to receive important guidance, training, and support from senior staff. They work in a range of primary, secondary, tertiary, clinical, laboratory and acute care settings, in hospitals, private practices and community clinics. Registered doctors at this level can further their career as Hospital Doctors or Career Medical Officers or pursue a medical specialty with further training and specialist registration. Registrars who want to pursue a career in Cardio-thoracic Surgery undertake advanced training in Cardio-thoracic Surgery and its clinical practice. They work under Cardio-thoracic surgeons/specialist consultants and develop skills, clinical expertise, and further knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology related to the discipline. They further develop specialised surgical techniques and gain valuable work experience in Cardio-thoracic surgical procedures, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Intensive Care.