Thoracic Surgery

With the progress and development of thoracic surgery technologies, the nursing care of a thoracic surgery patient has become more complex. To promote the patient’s optimal health, recovery, and personal welfare of the patient, nurses in the hospital and the outpatient setting must demonstrate extensive knowledge and skills in caring for these complex cases.

To promote theoretical and practical knowledge from diagnosis to treatment and the monitoring of patients that require chest surgery (including lung, esophageal and gastric surgery).

To improve the skills in nursing interventions, such as providing information, training, advice, support, symptomatic management and treatment methods, rehabilitation, and treatment in patients who have undergone chest surgery.

Mr. Omar Bhaa RN, MHA

Mr. Omar Bhaa is the head nurse of Sheba’s Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Department. He has undertaken numerous roles at Sheba, including Deputy Head Nurse of the Cardiothoracic Department. Omar is a highly experienced lecturer of both undergraduate colleges and in advanced nursing training programs. He holds an MHA degree in health systems management and economic evaluation of medical technologies from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and a B.A from Tel Aviv University.

Mr. Bhaa has proven his ability to lead processes that improve the quality of care, during the establishment of the National Center for Ischemic Diabetic Foot, the establishment of a wound clinic for patients with an ischemic diabetic foot, and the establishment of the Lung Transplant Unit. He promoted the prevention of amputation in collaboration with Sheba’s Innovation Center by managing a continuous care application program as well as a remote care program for patients with critical limb ischemia.

• Pulmonary tumors
• Esophageal diseases and tumors
• Tumors of the mediastinum
• Innovations and technologies in pulmonary oncology
• Preparation of a patient for thoracic surgery
• Anesthesia in the pulmonary patient
• The role of the nurse in the thoracic surgery operating room
• Nursing a patient after thoracic surgery
• Monitoring and treating a patient after thoracic surgery
• Pain management in the chest patient
• Chest drains and chest drain assessment
• Mediastinoscopy, sympathectomy and tracheotomy
• Respiratory complications after thoracic surgery
• Infection in lung diseases and surgical interventions
• Infection prevention in hospitals, with an emphasis on the surgical patient
• The role of the cardiologist in the treatment of pulmonary patients and in preparation for surgery
• Management of risk factors, prevention and treatment of lung diseases
• The importance of nutrition before and after chest surgery
• The role of the physiotherapist after thoracic surgery
• Pulmonary functional assessment
• Palliative care