About Minimally Invasive Surgery | Highlights | Team | Location | Appointments
If you have a lung or chest issue that requires surgery, you may be worried about long hospital stays and extended recoveries. You may even have been told that you aren’t healthy enough for surgery.
For many thoracic conditions, minimally invasive surgery can provide the same outcomes as traditional open surgery but with shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and fewer complications. Minimally invasive techniques also offer potential treatment options for patients who have been deemed too “high risk” for open surgery.
The Thoracic Surgery Program at Columbia is a world leader in minimally invasive surgery, even for the most complex cases and diseases. Our skilled surgeons have helped develop and refine many of the techniques commonly used today, and we continue to explore innovative new treatments.
To make an appointment, please call (212) 305-3408 or complete our online appointment request form.
About Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
Traditional open surgery requires the use of a scalpel to make a large incision to perform the procedure. While these larger openings can help improve access and visibility during the procedure, they can also increase the risk of complications, prolong recovery time, and cause unnecessary discomfort during the healing process.
Minimally invasive surgery uses small, flexible cameras and lights to guide the procedure and replaces the single large incision with several smaller openings. These methods sometimes employ a robotic arm that mimics a surgeon’s movements for more precise control.
By reducing the stress and trauma on the body during the surgery, minimally invasive techniques offer benefits like:
- Faster recovery
- Shorter hospital stay
- Lower risk of complications and infection
- Smaller or no incisions
Our Services Include:
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Thoracoscopic surgery
- Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)
- Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS)
- Lung-sparing sublobar segmentectomy
- Navigational magnetic bronchoscopy
- Image-guided bronchoscopy (to diagnose and treat early lung cancer)
Highlights of Our Program
Organ Preserving Treatments
As leaders in thoracic transplant surgery, Columbia has pioneered minimally invasive surgery techniques to preserve or improve organ function. Originally developed to help patients waiting for transplants, these techniques can now be applied to other conditions where open surgery isn’t a viable option. Minimally invasive procedures offer lifesaving options for high-risk patients while dramatically improving their quality of life.
A Center of Innovation
The Thoracic Surgery Program at Columbia is at the forefront of minimally invasive surgery. Thanks to our unmatched expertise with traditional surgery, we can translate that knowledge into new and exciting minimally invasive procedures for conditions like breathing issues and lung cancers. We offer options to patients who have been told they have none.
Experience Matters
While minimally invasive surgery offers many benefits for patients, the skill of the surgeon is still the most important factor to consider. Columbia is one of the leading surgery programs in the world, with experience treating even the most challenging cases. Our experts can determine the right approach based on your individual needs, and our outcomes speak for themselves.
Care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
We are proud to offer care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the leading medical center in New York City. You’ll have access to the highest level of care and the most advanced technology, including the latest diagnostic testing and image guidance.
Our Team
Joshua R. Sonett, MD | Chief, General Thoracic Surgery
Frank D’Ovidio, MD, PhD | Surgical Director, Lung Transplant
Faisal Shaikh, MD | Director, Interventional Pulmonology
Our Locations
We have easily accessible locations in New York and New Jersey. Our team is also available for online virtual visits for your convenience.
New York
Price Family Center for Comprehensive Chest Care
Herbert Irving Pavilion, Third Floor
161 Fort Washington Ave
New York, NY 10032
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New Jersey
Columbia Lung and Esophageal Center of New Jersey
85 Harristown Road, #101
Glen Rock, NJ 07452
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ColumbiaDoctors Englewood
25 Rockwood Place
Englewood, NJ 07631
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Make an Appointment
We accept most major insurance plans and can verify your plan when you call to make your appointment.
To make an appointment with a member of our Thoracic Surgery Program, please call (212) 305-3408, or complete our online appointment request form and our office will follow up with you soon. You can also have your doctor contact us for a referral and our team can help coordinate your care.