Thoracic Surgery
Schedule an Appointment
You or your physician may give us a call to schedule your thoracic surgery consultation or appointment.
406-238-5864 (LUNG)
1-800-332-7156
Billings Clinic thoracic surgeons perform operations on the lungs, chest cavity and chest wall. Your care is discussed at the Lung Cancer Tumor Board and Lung Conference, which brings together the expertise of multiple specialists in reviewing patient's treatment plan.
By working together, we can provide coordinated care that’s individualized to each patient.
We schedule needed tests and visits with physician specialists all in one day. Care team members you may meet with include:
For answers to any of your questions or for more information, please visit with members of your thoracic surgery care team.
Thoracic Surgery Procedures
Billings Clinic thoracic surgeons provide surgical evaluation and treatment for pulmonary, chest cavity and chest wall conditions related to:
da Vinci Surgical Robotic Surgery Procedures
Some thoracic surgical procedures at Billings Clinic are performed utilizing the da Vinci surgical system:
- Robotic Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery – removal of a lobe of the lung (Lobectomy)
- Removal of part of the lung (Wedge Resection)
- Lung biopsy
- Biopsy of membrane tissue around the lung (Pleural biopsy)
- Creating an opening in the membrane that surrounds the heart (also known as the pericardial window)
- Removal of the thymus gland (Thymectomy)
Monarch Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy Platform
The Monarch™ Platform using Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy allows our physicians to potentially diagnose small nodules during early stages of lung cancer. This procedure is similar to traditional bronchoscopy and provides advanced precision and control that comes from robotic technology.
The Monarch Platform combines traditional camera views into the lung with computer assisted navigation based on 3-D models of your own lung anatomy. For the first time, we have the benefit of a platform designed to provide bronchoscopic visualization throughout the procedure.
Billings Clinic is the first in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and North Dakota to offer the the Monarch™ Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy Platform.
Lung Cancer Screening
Billings Clinic offers low-dose lung CT scans as a screening test for lung cancer. Screening may detect cancer earlier, before symptoms occur. Lung screening is recommended for individuals who:
• Are between ages 55 and 74?*
• Are still smoking or quit smoking within the past 15 years?
• Have a 30-pack year or more history of smoking? A pack year is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years an individual has smoked.
Learn more about Lung Cancer Screening or contact us at 406-238-5864 (LUNG), Monday-Friday, 8 am to 5 pm for screening assessment and scheduling.
* Insurance coverage varies. Tricare now covers screening for ages 55-80.
