Anna L. McGuire MD, MSc, FRCSC
Advanced Minimally Invasive Thoracic and Foregut Surgeon
Fax referrals to 604-398-8587
Phone 604-875-5290
Thoracic Surgery with Dr. McGuire
Your Thoracic Health is my Priority
Initial Consult with Dr. McGuire
Taking Care of You
The initial appointment with Dr McGuire is about 30 minutes in length and for consultation only.
No procedures will be done at this visit.
Dr. McGuire will review your history, completed investigations, conduct an appropriate examination, and discuss your management plan.
Click here for details on tests that Dr. McGuire may arrange before surgery.
Thoracic Surgery at VGH
Helping You Get Healthy
All of Dr. McGuire's thoracic surgeries and thoracic procedures are conducted at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH).
In the operating room, fellowship trained cardiothoracic anesthesiologists give you anesthesia.
Before surgery Dr McGuire's office will arrange an assessment in the VGH pre-anesthetic clinic.
Click these links to the VCH Chest Surgery and VCH Esophophagectomy Patient and Family Information guides for more information.
Thoracic Post-Op Care at VGH
The Care You Deserve
After surgery, all of Dr. McGuire's patients recover on the 12th floor Chest Centre at VGH in the Jim Pattison Pavilion. A highly specialized multidisciplinary "Tower-12 Chest Centre" team of Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dieticians, and Pharmacists, help care for Dr. McGuire's thoracic patients while in hospital.
Click "Welcome to the Chest Centre" for more details.
Chest Surgery with Dr. McGuire at VGH
Video assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS) is a type of minimally invasive chest surgery where the surgeon enters the chest cavity through two or three holes between the ribs. Through these holes, the surgeon passes telescope type instruments. A camera is used to see and instruments are used to remove the diseased part of your lung, or to remove masses in the center of your chest called the mediastinum.
A thoracotomy is an incision (3 to 8 inches long) into the chest cavity, usually to remove a small segment of lung, a lobe of the lung, or an entire lung.
Sternotomy is an incision through your breast bone (sternum) to remove masses in the center of your chest called the mediastinum.
You have a right lung and a left lung. The right lung is made up of three lobes and the left lung is made up of two lobes. Each lobe is made of smaller segments.
The following is a list defining the various chest surgeries:
A lobectomy is when a lobe(s) of a lung is removed. After this surgery, the remaining lung tissue expands to fill the space that was occupied by the diseased lung tissue.
A wedge resection is when a small pie-shaped piece of a lobe is removed. The post-operative care after a wedge resection is the same as for a lobectomy.
A segmentectomy is when an anatomical segment of a lobe is removed.
A bullectomy is surgical removal of a bulla, a thin-walled blister or air filled cavity in the lung.
A thymectomy is surgical removal of the thymus gland in the center of your chest called the mediastinum.
A decortication is surgical removal of the pleural layers of the chest cavity.
A pneumonectomy is the removal of an entire lung. If you have a pneumonectomy, the space that was occupied by the lung fills up with fluid and over time with fibrous tissue.
Chest Surgery
For more details on what to expect before and after chest surgery at VGH with Dr McGuire click below:
Before & After Your Esophagectomy
After years of medical training and experience, I understand how to work with my patients to ensure they receive the best care possible. My thoughtful and personalized approach means I’m fully committed to the health and well-being of all my patients. Read below to find out about services I provide. With a Surgeon like me, and you’re in great hands.
What is an Esophagectomy, and Why is it done?
All the information below can also be found in the VCH booklet: Before and After Esophagectomy Patient and Family Guide.
You are about to have an operation to remove your esophagus or "food pipe". This information has been put together to let you know what to expect before and after esophagectomy at VGH. This is meant as a guide only. Throughout your hospital stay, you will receive care from a team of health care professionals including:
Your thoracic surgeon Dr. McGuire
Thoracic clinical associates
Registered Nurses and Thoracic nurse practioners
Thoracic surgery fellows
Physiotherapists
Social Workers
Dieticians
Respiratory Therapists
Occupational Therapists
All members of the health care team are available to answer your questions about your recovery.
What is an Esophagectomy, and Why is it done?
An esophagectomy is the surgical removal of the diseased part of the esophagus, or "food pipe". After the esophagus is removed, the stomach (or in certain situations part of the colon – large bowel) is attached to the remaining part of the esophagus (either in the chest or the neck). This reconnects your digestive system so that you will be able to eat again. There are many different kinds of esophagectomy, and every kind is possible to be done at VGH depending on your treatment need.
More on esophagectomy
Click the links below to lean more about: