Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Place UH Program among Best in Nation

By Philip Linden, MD
Chief, Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery
UH Cleveland Medical Center

Philip Linden, MD

UH patients undergoing surgery for esophageal resection and lung resection have among the lowest mortality and complication rates in the nation, according to data from the Society of Thoracic Surgery (STS).

The STS collects data from more than 100 of the largest academic and non-academic hospitals in the nation. The STS database reveals that UH’s results place its program among the top 5% in the country for fewest deaths and fewest complications.

UH Cleveland Medical Center’s Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery has outstanding results for esophageal resection, and the program has ranked in the top tier of the nation’s largest and most advanced programs since data was first collected. The STS database, considered the most detailed and advanced surgical databases in the country, is risk-adjusted for expected mortality and complication rates. UH’s rate of major complications and mortality is just two-thirds that of most other major academic medical centers.

UH Cleveland Medical Center’s results are a testament to the exceptional surgical skills of the entire department, including thoracic surgeons Dr. Christopher Towe, Dr. Leo Tapias, Dr. Jillian Sinopoli and Dr. Bo Jiang. It also reflects outstanding patient care delivered by nurses and physician extenders, such as Jason Brown, PA, Lucie Engelskirker, NP, Noreen Vick, NP, Madeline Meyers, PA, and Jackie McCluskey, PA.