Innovations and Challenges in Thoracic Surgery: Present and Future Directions
A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Surgery".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 31
Special Issue Editors
Interests: thoracic surgery; lung cancer; pleural mesothelioma; lung metastases; mediastinal tumors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: thoracic surgery; lung cancer; pulmonary metastasectomy; mesothelioma; lung volume reduction surgery; minimally invasive surgery (VATS/RATS); enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols; multidisciplinary care; surgical oncology; postoperative outcomes
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The field of thoracic surgery is undergoing a dynamic transformation through technological innovation, refined perioperative care, and integration into multimodal oncologic strategies. Minimally invasive approaches such as VATS and robotic-assisted surgery, combined with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, have increasingly become standard, improving outcomes and reducing morbidity.
Beyond early-stage lung cancer, the scope of thoracic surgery continues to expand. Pulmonary metastasectomy remains a relevant but debated option in oligometastatic disease, while lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) offers improved quality of life for selected patients with severe emphysema. Additionally, the surgical treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma continues to evolve, requiring complex decision-making in a multidisciplinary setting.
This Special Issue aims to highlight the current status of thoracic surgery and to anticipate the future directions it may take. We welcome original research, reviews, and expert perspectives on advances in surgical techniques, perioperative pathways, oncologic outcomes, patient selection, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
We especially encourage contributions addressing surgery in complex or comorbid patients, the integration of systemic therapies, and long-term follow-up data that will shape clinical decision-making.
We look forward to receiving your valuable submissions that will help to define the next chapter in thoracic surgical care.
Prof. Dr. Servet Bölükbas
Guest Editor
Dr. Konstantinos Grapatsas
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- thoracic surgery
- lung cancer
- pulmonary metastasectomy
- mesothelioma
- lung volume reduction surgery
- minimally invasive surgery (VATS/ RATS)
- enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols
- multidisciplinary care
- surgical oncology
- postoperative outcomes
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
