The American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) is 1 of 24 specialty boards that are recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association. Like the other specialty boards, the ABTS certifies surgeons as having met certain published standards of excellence for the specialty of thoracic surgery.
The specialty of thoracic surgery encompasses the operative and perioperative care as well as critical care of patients with pathologic conditions within the chest. Included is the surgical care of coronary artery disease; cancers of the lung, esophagus, and chest wall; abnormalities of the great vessels and heart valves; congenital anomalies of the chest and heart; tumors of the mediastinum; and diseases of the diaphragm. The management of the airway and injuries of the chest is within the scope of the specialty.
