Asian perspective in surgery: thoracic surgery in Turkey

Area of Science:

• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Turkey's unique geographical and cultural position between Asia and Europe.
• A thoracic surgery workforce of 577 active surgeons and 37 teaching units.
• High prevalence of lung cancer and inflammatory thoracic diseases (e.g., hydatid disease, bronchiectasis, empyema) linked to tobacco use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the current state of thoracic surgery in Turkey.
• To project future trends in thoracic surgical procedures, particularly for lung cancer.
• To highlight the growing importance of minimally invasive thoracic surgery.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of the current thoracic surgery landscape in Turkey.
• Review of disease prevalence impacting thoracic surgical caseloads.
• Assessment of the adoption rate of minimally invasive techniques.

Main Results:

• Significant thoracic surgical activity driven by lung cancer and inflammatory conditions.
• Increasing integration of minimally invasive thoracic surgery (MITS) among practitioners.
• Projected rise in thoracic surgical case volume and MITS utilization.

Conclusions:

• Turkey's thoracic surgery field is evolving, with a notable shift towards MITS.
• Future thoracic surgeons are expected to perform a higher volume of minimally invasive resectional surgeries, especially for lung cancer.
• The adoption of MITS is crucial for advancing thoracic surgical care in the region.