Departments

Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Excellence in Heart, Lung and Esophageal Surgery

The Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Samsung Medical Center delivers world-class surgical care for diseases of the heart, lungs and esophagus. Treating patients of all ages-from newborns to older adults-we perform over 4,000 surgeries annually. Our multidisciplinary teams use advanced diagnostics, robotic and minimally invasive techniques, and innovative treatment strategies to achieve exceptional outcomes while prioritizing safety, recovery, and quality of life.

Advanced Heart Care Across All Ages

The Cardiovascular Surgery division provides highly specialized care for both adult and pediatric heart conditions, offering procedures such as valve repair/replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), aortic surgery, and heart transplantation. We lead the nation in CABG volume, with approximately 80% performed off-pump, achieving an early postoperative mortality rate below 1%. Our expertise extends to aortic surgery, robotic valve repair, minimally invasive arrhythmia surgery, and mechanical circulatory support, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and left ventricular assist device (LVAD), as Korea's first dedicated center for these therapies.

The Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Program works seamlessly with fetal heart and pediatric cardiology teams to manage complex congenital defects from prenatal diagnosis through postnatal intervention.

Our structured cardiac rehabilitation program promotes faster recovery, improved cardiovascular function, and emotional well-being. Through continuous research, education, and innovation, we remain at the forefront of cardiovascular surgery in Korea and worldwide.

Leaders in Minimally Invasive Cancer & Transplant Surgery

Samsung Medical Center's Thoracic Surgery division is a national leader in the treatment of lung and esophageal cancers, performing over 1,800 surgeries each year. More than 70% of cancer cases are managed using minimally invasive or robotic-assisted techniques, including lung-sparing procedures such as sleeve and sublobar resections, to preserve function while ensuring cure. We also excel in complex esophageal surgery, with over 80% performed using minimally invasive surgery (MIS) or robotic methods, resulting in low complication rates and excellent reconstruction outcomes.

Our Lung Transplantation Program is among the best in Korea, offering extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) bridging and re-transplantation for high-risk, end-stage lung disease with outstanding survival results. As pioneers in video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and robotic surgery, our team continues to advance techniques that reduce recovery time, minimize pain, and improve patient quality of life.