A thoracic surgeon is a doctor who specialize in operations on the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. Cardiovascular surgeons are also thoracic surgeons but with specialization in only heart related diseases and operations. A general thoracic surgeon could perform lobectomy, pneumonectomy, thoracoscopy or VATS, esophagogastrectomy, laparoscopic nissen fundoplication, laparoscopic heller myotomy, thoracoscopic sympathectomy, lung transplant.