Thoracic Surgery
Conditions & Symptoms

Robotic biopsy and keyhole surgery. ION bronchoscopy for shadows in the outer lung. MDT for every cancer case.

Biopsy a lung shadow or nodule without surgery. First centre in Europe outside trials. Same-day tissue answer.

From first scan result to definitive treatment. Consultant-led scan review, risk stratification, biopsy where indicated, surgery if needed.

Biopsy and curative robotic resection under a single anaesthetic for selected fit patients with a small peripheral lesion.

Removing the segment containing a small tumour rather than the whole lobe. Two randomised trials, equivalent cancer control, more lung preserved.

The standard cancer operation for tumours over 2cm, central tumours, or where nodal involvement is suspected.

The full Stages I–IIIA pathway — screening, diagnosis, lung-sparing surgery and perioperative chemoimmunotherapy.

Five decision points where AI is now active, from screening CT risk stratification through to the operative field.

Whole lymph nodes removed as a day case when EBUS has not answered the question. Lymphoma, molecular testing, staging.

A tumour in the main bronchus need not mean losing the lung. The airway is resected and rebuilt, sparing the lung beyond it.

Removal of a whole lung, when a lung-sparing operation cannot clear the disease. Fitness assessment and life afterwards.

Told your breathing tests rule out lung cancer surgery? FEV₁, transfer factor, CPET and regional imaging decide together — and the answer runs both ways.

Endobronchial valve therapy and LVRS. Sole operator at GSTT and London Bridge. Monthly MDT including Harefield transplant team.

Pleural effusions, pleural thickening, mesothelioma assessment. Surgical drainage and VATS pleurodesis.

Recurrent or malignant fluid around the lung: VATS talc pleurodesis, pleural biopsy or an indwelling catheter, and how the choice is made.

Keyhole chest surgery: which operations are done by VATS rather than robotically, and why.

Pleural plaques, thickening, benign effusion and rounded atelectasis — what each scan finding means, and when a biopsy is needed.

Frequently misdiagnosed. Diagnosed with dynamic ultrasound and treated by nerve-preserving keyhole repair — stabilising the rib rather than removing it.

ETS surgery for excessive sweating of hands, armpits and face, when antiperspirants, iontophoresis and Botox have not worked. Overnight stay.

Keyhole surgery to treat a collapsed lung and significantly reduce the risk of recurrence.

Air in the mediastinum without injury. Usually self-limiting; the work is in excluding oesophageal and airway injury first.

Robotic keyhole first rib resection. Conservative treatment first; surgery for the minority with persistent symptoms.

Cyclical chest pain or breathlessness linked to the menstrual cycle. Joined-up surgical and gynaecological care with GSTT colleagues.

Diaphragm plication, hernia repair, endometriosis. Breathlessness that is worse lying flat may have a diaphragmatic cause.

Tracheal stenosis, airway tumours, post-intubation complications. Leads the Central Airways Service at GSTT.

Symptom-directed care — relieving breathlessness, pain, cough and recurrent fluid in advanced or inoperable chest disease.

Surgery for localised bronchiectasis, aspergilloma, lung abscess, tuberculosis and hydatid disease. By specialist referral.

Told surgery is not possible? Uncertain about a diagnosis or treatment plan? Expert independent review within 2–3 days. Virtual appointments available.

Incidental CT or X-ray finding. What it means, Brock score explained, the three possible outcomes.

Breathlessness with a thoracic cause — emphysema, pleural disease, diaphragm, lung tumour. What a surgical assessment covers.

A cough lasting more than 3 weeks needs investigation. Thoracic causes, when surgery is relevant, and when Dr Okiror refers on.

Haemoptysis requires urgent specialist assessment. Most causes are treatable. What to expect at the first appointment.

Chest pain that has not been explained after cardiac investigation. Thoracic causes including pleural, chest wall, and lung.

Chest pain or breathlessness that follows the menstrual cycle. Thoracic endometriosis — average diagnostic delay over 5 years.

Numbness, weakness or pain radiating into the arm. Thoracic outlet syndrome — often misdiagnosed as cervical or cardiac.

Part of the lung pushing out through a gap between the ribs — a bulge that appears when you cough. Uncommon, and repairable.

Schwannoma, ganglioneuroma and neurogenic tumours. Almost always benign — the anatomy decides the operation and the team.

A lump on the chest wall or rib. Most are benign. Where rib tumours are suspected, discussed with RNOH Stanmore specialist teams.

Constitutional symptoms that can indicate thoracic malignancy. When these symptoms need specialist assessment and what to expect.

Hyperhidrosis — excessive sweating of hands, armpits or face. ETS surgery after non-surgical options have been tried.