Cardiothoracic surgery is a complex medical specialty that involves the surgical treatment of conditions that affect the heart, lungs and other organs in the chest. Since the term cardiothoracic surgery is quite lengthy and difficult to pronounce, many people prefer to use synonyms that are more concise and easier to remember. Some commonly used synonyms for cardiothoracic surgery include thoracic surgery, chest surgery, heart surgery and vascular surgery. These terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same surgical procedures, and they all refer to the same medical speciality that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular and thoracic diseases and disorders.