 
Minimally Invasive Surgery ProgramUntil recently, the surgical treatment of esophageal disorders required open thoracotomy or abdominal surgery. Although correction of the problem was accomplished, recovery from the surgical incisions was often lengthy.The thoracic surgeons of the Allegheny Center for Lung and Thoracic Disease were the first in the western Pennsylvania tri-state area to introduce minimally invasive video-assisted surgical approaches to accomplish the surgical repair for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Currently, the average patient stay in the hospital is a little more than one day, and return to full activities is accomplished in about a week's time. Long-term success and freedom from the need for futher medical treatment of GERD following the procedure is greater than 90 percent. The surgeons of the Allegheny Center for Lung and Thoracic Disease are also leading the way in the region for the expansion of minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat esophageal motility disorders such as achalasia, Zenker's diverticulum and diffuse esophageal spasm. The postoperative recovery following surgical correction of these disorders is similar to that seen following the minimally invasive surgical management of GERD used by the center's surgeons. Following the trends for minimally invasive approaches to other thoracic surgical problems utilized by the center's surgeons, unique direction in less invasive diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to esophageal cancer are being explored. The surgeons of the center have led the region in experience with the use of thorascopic and laproscopic management of this malignancy. Reducing the morbidity of surgery can result in an earlier return to full activities and greater tolerance of possible subsequent therapies that are needed.
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