Cardiac Surgery is the area of surgery that deals with diseases of the pericardium, heart and vessels. Procedures that are performed include coronary artery bypass, valve repair or replacement, heart transplantation replacement of the aorta, pulmonary, thromboendarterectomy and procedures to correct congenital abnormalities. It is a demanding, technical specialty that is very diverse. It exposes practitioners to a wide variety of medical problems and requires them to interact often with other physicians including the operating room team comprised of specialized nurses, technicians and anesthetists.
Thoracic surgery is the branch of surgery concerned with congenital and acquired diseases of the chest wall, mediastinum, lungs, trachea, pleura, esophagus and diaphragm. After completing medical school, to become certified in thoracic surgery requires that you first obtain Royal College Certification in general surgery, cardiac surgery, or enrolment in a Royal College-approved training program in these areas. All candidates must be certified in their primary specialty in order to be eligible to write the Royal College certification examination in thoracic surgery.