Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery at University Hospital Muenster provides surgical care for patients with diseases affecting the heart, lungs, chest, mediastinum, and diaphragm. It is recognized as one of the best medical facilities in Germany for cardiac surgery by FOCUS Magazine. The cardiac surgery unit follows the latest guidelines for quality care and uses the most advanced surgical techniques. This unit is in cooperation with the Department of Cardiology to ensure that the patient gets the specialized and optimal care in areas of diagnosis, conservative and surgical treatment. The department is a member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Muenster. Surgeons during cardiac surgery have their attention towards keeping the brain healthy and safe and implement this by using minimally invasive procedures and reconstructive techniques. The unit of thoracic surgery is concerned with the surgical treatment of lung cancer and metastases to other thoracic organs.

Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Med. Sven Martens, the department treats nearly 1,200 inpatients and performs more than 3,000 surgical procedures every year, heart-lung machines are used in 200 of these operations. The research unit of the department has basic research projects as well as clinical studies going, especially in the areas of children's heart valves and cardiac tumors. A special feature of the department is its efforts and success in the field of heart and lung transplantation surgery.

Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery at University Hospital Muenster is specialized in:

•    Surgical care for:
o    Mitral valve defects
o    Aortic valve defects
o    Septal defects
o    Chronic heart failure
o    Lung neoplasm
o    Heart tumor
o    Aortic aneurysm

•    Other operations as:
o    Transplantation surgery of the heart
o    Transplantation surgery of the lung
o    Pacemakers implantation
o    Defibrillators implantation