Cardiothoracic surgeon
Cardiothoracic surgeons specialise in operating on the heart, lungs and other thoracic (chest) organs.
They also diagnose and treat diseases of these organs.
Life as a cardiothoracic surgeon
You’ll see the immediate and life-changing results of your work, but your role will be hugely demanding. Diseases that occur in a person’s chest are common killers and you’ll be managing life and death scenarios every day.
Cardiothoracic surgery is a relatively young speciality that has experienced rapid growth through the introduction of new technologies.
Before surgery you’ll meet with patients and their families to discuss and explain procedures and offer reassurance. Being crystal clear, empathetic and warm is vital to the success of your role.
The main areas of cardiothoracic surgery are:
- cardiac surgery
- thoracic surgery
- congenital cardiac surgery
- heart and lung transplant surgery
Monitoring patients in intensive care after surgery is a vital part of your work. Although cardiothoracic surgery is very safe, complications can occur and you’ll need to be prepared to deal with a host of conditions including arrhythmias (heart-beat irregularity), post-operative bleeding, stroke, pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs), wound infection or thrombosis.
As well as performing surgery, you’ll be involved in the treatment and management of many different conditions within your speciality. You’ll need to attend outpatient clinics, multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds.
How much can I earn?
You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors and consultants on the 'Pay for doctors' page.
How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
- a high degree of manual dexterity
- superb hand-eye co-ordination, excellent vision, and visuospatial awareness
- physical stamina to cope with the demands of surgery
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.
If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.
Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.
"I had some great mentors who gave me the opportunity to operate on patients with supervision, and to look after very sick patients on the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery."
Read Omar's story.
What are my chances of starting a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon?
There are currently approximately 400 cardiothoracic surgeons working in the NHS in England. In 2020, there were between 5.86 and 9.92 applications for every specialty training place.
How to become a cardiothoracic surgeon
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.
After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become a cardiothoracic surgeon, which will take a minimum of six or seven years.
You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.
Where a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon can take you
Working as a cardiothoracic surgeon, you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in cardiac, thoracic or congenital surgery.
As a cardiac surgeon, you’ll perform various kinds of surgery including:
- coronary artery bypass surgery – restoring blood flow to the heart by bypassing the narrowed coronary arteries
- heart valve surgery – repairing and replacing narrowed or leaking heart valves
- aortic surgery – replacing an enlarged or damaged blood vessel leaving the heart
If you choose to specialise as a thoracic surgeon, you’ll perform a wide range of surgery including:
- surgery for lung cancer, tumours and cysts
- surgery on collapsed or infected lungs
- keyhole thoracic surgery (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS))
- chest-wall deformities (pectus surgery)
If you choose congenital cardiac surgery, you’ll treat babies and children with heart diseases that have been present from birth. These conditions include:
- septal defects (a hole between two of the heart’s chambers)
- aortic and pulmonary valve stenosis (where the valve is narrower than normal)
- transposition of the arteries
You could specialise or conduct research, teach medical students or postgraduate students in training and get involved in research at universities, the NHS or private sector.
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Consultant in Cardiothoracic Histopathology
Cambridge Bio Medical Campus, CB2 0AY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia
Cardiff, CF14 4XW
- Salary :
- £110240.00 to £160951.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
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Locum Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist
Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
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Senior Clinical Fellow Cardiothoracic Anaesthetics
Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP
- Salary :
- £65408.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
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Consultant Cellular Pathologist - Cardiothoracic & Renal
Nottingham, NG5 1PB
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts
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Locum Consultant in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia
Leicester, LE3 9QP
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
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Consultant Hand Surgeon
Doncaster, DN40TG
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- HealthHarmonie
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Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
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Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
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Consultant Spinal Surgeon
Sheffield, S11 8UX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- One Health Group
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Locum Podiatric Surgeon
King's Lynn, PE30 4ET
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHSFT
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Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Shepton Mallet, BA4 4LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
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OMFS Consultant Surgeon
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Consultant Urological Surgeon
London, E11 1NR
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Consultant Dermatology Surgeon
Grimsby, DN31 2BH
- Salary :
- £105000.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- HCRG Care Group
-
Consultant ENT Surgeon
Cottingham, HU16 5JQ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
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Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Reading, RG1 5AN
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant Cleft Surgeon
London, SE1 7EH
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant ENT Surgeon
St Helens, WA9 3DA
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant Urological Surgeon
Oxford, OX3 7LE
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Nottingham, NG5 1PB
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts
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Consultant Urological Surgeon - Stone
London, E11 1NR
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Consultant Oncoplastic Breast surgeon
Croydon, CR7 7YE
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
-
Consultant Renal Transplant Surgeon
Portsmouth, PO6 3LY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
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Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon
Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5NY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Medway NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Lancaster, LA14RP
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Portsmouth, PO6 3LY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
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Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
Colchester, CO4 5JL
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
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CONSULTANT in Adult Cardiothoracic & ICM - interest in (SARF) & ECMO
Leicester, LE3 9QP
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
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Treatment Doctor / Surgeon - 15 hours
Birmingham, B30 1DB
- Salary :
- £101000.00 to £151000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)
-
Locum Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon
Stockton on Tees, TS19 8PE
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant Burns and Plastic Surgeon
Birmingham, B15 2TH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Consultant in Orthopaedics (Knee Surgeon)
Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7QB
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Spinal Surgeon - Specialising in Spine Deformity
Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
-
Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon (Facial Deformity & TMJ)
Tooting, London, SW17 0QT
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Trust Locum Consultant Surgeon with Parathyroid interest
Conquest, TN37 7RD
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145479.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
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Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon – Upper Limb or Shoulder & Elbow
Shepton Mallet, BA4 4LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
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Locum Consultant Surgeon in Oral & Maxillo Facial Surgery
London, E9 6SR
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant ENT Surgeon with special interest in Head & Neck
Cottingham, HU16 5JQ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Urological Surgeon with an Interest in Andrology & Penile Cancer
Tooting, SW17 0QT
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant ENT Surgeon with an interest in Otology or Paediatrics
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
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Locum Consultant Plastic Surgeon with an interest in Skin & Trauma
Salisbury, SP2 8BJ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
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These organisations have further information about being a cardiothoracic surgeon, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland
And hear from people working as cardiothoracic surgeons.
A career in cardiothoracic surgery (BMJ)