The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery treats the entire spectrum of chest diseases requiring surgical intervention at Rigshospitalet and has a long tradition of state-of-the-art open as well as minimally invasive, highly specialised, and individualised surgical treatment for cardiothoracic diseases.

The treatment is based on the implementation of the newest research results from both within the department and from centres around the world. Both clinical research and teaching are an integrated part of clinical practice in the department.

The department consists of three units: The Cardiovascular Unit, the Thoracic Unit, and the Paediatric Cardiothoracic Unit.

We receive adult and paediatric patients from all over Denmark and Scandinavia. The department is the largest highly specialised unit for surgical treatment of the entire spectrum of diseases in the chest of adult and paediatric patients in Denmark. Furthermore, we provide a full heart and lung transplant programme, residency programmes, and research fellowships at all levels.

Employees
Two professors, cardio surgery
19 Consultants
Two senior registrars
16 Registrars
11 Perfusionists
155 Nurses

We perform
Approx. 1,400 adult cardiac procedures
Approx. 1,100 adult thoracic procedures
Approx. 240 paediatric cardiac procedures
Approx. 60 paediatric thoracic procedures
Approx. 1,400 endoscopies
Approx. 3,100 outpatient consultations

We work in
Ten operating theatres daily 
Three wards with 32+36 beds 
One outpatient department


Jesper Ravn
MD, Head of Department and Cardiovascular Surgery Unit
Section: 2152
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Christina Sølvsteen Lunde
Head Nurse
Section: 2152




Marianne Trudslev Jørgensen 
Head Secretary
Section: 2152


Cardiothoracic surgery involves the surgical treatment of diseases affecting the organs of the thorax (chest) – primarily the heart, the lungs, and the oesophagus. 
Major diseases of the heart and the great vessels include:
  • coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis and thrombosis of the nutritive cardiac vessels), leading to ischemic heart disease
  • valvular heart disease, which most often affects the aortic and mitral valves leading to congestive heart disease
  • aneurysm and dissection of the thoracic aorta. 


Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Rigshospitalet
Blegdamsvej 9
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Denmark

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