Thoracic Surgery

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Louisville’s Thoracic Surgery Leaders

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute’s board-certified and fellowship-trained thoracic surgeons are leaders in Louisville and Southern Indiana in providing minimally invasive lobectomy and other surgeries in the chest and abdomen.

Our surgeons treat a broad range of conditions affecting the chest and torso, esophagus and lungs, including lung cancer. Our specialists are known for their skill with minimally invasive and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery. They are leaders in new, minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment technologies, including the use of cesium-131 brachytherapy cancer treatments.

Patients with some of the most advanced conditions seek out George J. Mikos, M.D., and the thoracic surgery team because of proven skill, experience and easy access. We offer new patients same-day appointments.

Dr. Mikos, with more than 20 years’ experience as a thoracic surgeon, performs operations at Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital, Norton Hospital and Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital. Our team performs more specialized thoracic surgeries each year than any other provider in Louisville and Southern Indiana.

Experience and Expertise Across Various Specialties

So many of the body’s functions are primarily located in the chest, and our thoracic surgeons work closely with physicians across Norton Healthcare to bring you complete, multidisciplinary care.

Our team has the experience and expertise to provide a precise diagnosis and determine whether your condition requires surgery or can be treated by other means.

Conditions we treat include:

  • Lung nodules
  • Lung cancer
  • Chest reconstruction
  • Pleural effusion
  • Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
  • Esophageal reconstruction
  • Thymus disorders
  • Hiatal hernia and reflux issues
  • Thymic tumors

Comprehensive Lung Care

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute works closely with Norton Cancer Institute to provide comprehensive multidisciplinary lung care to patients across the Kentucky and Southern Indiana region. Our thoracic surgery team plays a key role for patients who seek care at the Norton Cancer Institute Comprehensive Lung Center to provide surgical interventions as needed for lung nodules, lung tumors and lobectomies.

In some cases, lung nodules require a biopsy to determine their cause and to rule out cancer. Using robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, our specialists can reach nodules anywhere in the lung, including the often difficult-to-access periphery. 

Without the risks that come with major surgery, robotic-assisted bronchoscopy allows our specialists to perform more biopsies and increase the chances of identifying cancerous nodules at a very early stage when they are most treatable. 

This multidisciplinary team approach has been designated as a GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer Center of Excellence, reserved for programs designed to accelerate lung cancer detection and patient treatment by using the most advanced technology available.

Some of the most advanced lung care available includes our ability to offer minimally invasive lung-cancer surgeries (lobectomies) and also partial lobectomies that save part of your lung. Dr. Mikos performs this technique, which results in patients having less pain and the ability to recover in about half the time as conventional surgery.

Care That’s Focused on You

Norton Cardiothoracic Surgery offers the latest in technology, treatments and easy access to care so that you can get back to life as quickly as possible.

  • Minimally invasive procedures can have you home quickly with less pain and faster recovery.
  • We exceed national benchmarks for days spent in hospital following a procedure.
  • Most procedures require one day or less in the hospital, and most patients spend no time in intensive care.
  • Surgeons trained and experienced at highly precise robotic assisted thoracic surgery.
  • Our lung cancer screening program includes smoking cessation resources.
  • We offer same-day appointments for new patients.
  • Care is available at any of the four Norton Healthcare adult hospitals.
  • Communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions and more anytime from a computer or mobile device with a free MyNortonChart account.
Thoracic Surgery

Heart and Vascular Care for the Whole Person

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers patient resources to support you and your family, including free classes for people of all ages who are seeking to improve cardiovascular health or living with a heart condition.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Our cardiac rehabilitation providers are leaders in developing and applying innovative techniques that can help you recover and resume your life.

Connecting Hearts Support Group

The group provides education and support to individuals who have had a heart attack, are living with a heart condition or are at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Heart Health Screenings

Prevention is the best way to manage heart disease, and screenings are available to detect early signs of cardiac and vascular disease and identify risk factors.

About Norton Heart & Vascular Institute

Every year, more than 137,000 people in Louisville and Southern Indiana choose Norton Heart & Vascular Institute specialists for their heart and vascular care. That’s more than any other health care provider.

  • Norton Healthcare’s adult-service hospitals in Louisville all have received Chest Pain Center accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC). This is the seventh consecutive accreditation for all four hospitals, which ensures quality for the treatment of heart attack.
  • Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital all are recognized as having ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation.
  • Norton Healthcare has the most facilities across the city of Louisville with the ability treat a life-threatening heart attack.
  • You have access to more than 100 physicians and advanced practice providers with specialized training and experience in a comprehensive range of conditions and treatments.
  • Patients can make appointments at 28 locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana. Telecardiology is offered at more than 30 sites in the region.
  • Norton Audubon Hospital, a key location for Norton Heart & Vascular Institute services, has been recognized with a HeartCare Center National Distinction of Excellence year after year by the American College of Cardiology. This is the only hospital in Louisville to be recognized for this distinction.
  • U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 Best Hospitals ranked Norton Healthcare’s adult-service hospitals in Louisville as high performing in heart attack, heart failure, aortic valve surgery and heart bypass surgery.
  • Norton Audubon Hospital earned ventricular assist device (VAD) accreditation from DNV – Healthcare and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
  • Communicate with your health care provider, renew prescriptions, get lab results and more through your free Norton MyChart account.

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