Top 5 Thoracic Surgery Specialists in Amman 2026

When do you need a thoracic surgeon?

Thoracic surgeons operate on the organs and structures inside the chest. These include the lungs and airways, the pleura (the lining around the lungs), the chest wall and ribs, the mediastinum (the space between the lungs, which contains the thymus) and, in some practices, the oesophagus. Some surgeons combine this work with heart surgery and call themselves cardiothoracic surgeons.

Many breathing problems never need surgery. Asthma, chronic cough, chest allergies, sleep apnoea and lung function testing are usually handled first by a family doctor or a chest physician (pulmonologist). A thoracic surgeon usually comes in when a test raises a question that surgery may answer or treat. Common reasons for a referral include:

• A lung nodule, mass or cyst seen on a chest X-ray or CT scan that needs a biopsy or a surgical opinion
• A collapsed lung (pneumothorax), especially if it has happened more than once
• Fluid or infection around the lung that does not settle with drainage or medicines
• A mass in the mediastinum or a thymus condition
• A chest wall deformity such as pectus excavatum (sunken chest) or pectus carinatum (pigeon chest)
• Severe sweating of the palms when other treatments have not helped
• Problems with the trachea or oesophagus that need a surgical assessment

Book a visit with your doctor, who may refer you on, if you have:

• A cough lasting more than three weeks, especially if you smoke or used to smoke
• Small streaks of blood in your phlegm
• Weight loss you cannot explain
• Repeated chest infections in the same area
• Breathlessness that keeps getting worse

Warning signs that need urgent care

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department straight away for any of the following:

• Sudden severe breathlessness or sharp chest pain, which can be a sign of a collapsed lung
• Coughing up more than a small amount of blood
• Chest pain that spreads to the arm, jaw or back
• Blue lips, or confusion with breathlessness
• Any significant injury to the chest

Do not wait for a clinic appointment in these situations.

How to choose among the doctors here

People searching for the best thoracic surgery specialists in Amman often compare names without first checking that the surgeon's field matches their problem. These criteria help you narrow the list:

• Match the scope to your condition. Some profiles focus on lungs, the mediastinum and the chest wall. Others describe mainly heart surgery (valves, coronary arteries, the aorta). Read each profile's published services and biography, and choose the one that matches the question in your scan or referral letter.
• Look at published qualifications. Some profiles list board certifications and fellowship training. Use them as a starting point, then ask about experience with your specific procedure.
• Ask where operations take place. A clinic consultation is not the same as the operating theatre. Several profiles here say that the procedure and its location are decided after assessment. Ask which hospital would be used and why.
• Think about team-based care. If cancer is suspected or confirmed, ask whether your case will be discussed with oncologists, radiologists and pathologists before surgery is decided.
• Check that the clinic hours fit your schedule. Hours range from a three-hour midday window to full working days. Some clinics stay open longer on certain days.
• Check insurance early, especially if surgery is likely, because hospital stays need separate approval.

What to expect at the first visit

The first consultation is mainly about reviewing your history and your tests. Surgery is rarely decided on the spot. The surgeon will usually ask about your symptoms, smoking history, other illnesses and medicines, and may examine your chest.

What to bring

• All chest X-rays and CT or other scans, on disc if possible, together with the written reports
• Any biopsy or pathology reports, lung function results and earlier discharge summaries
• A current list of your medicines, including blood thinners and supplements (do not stop any medicine unless a doctor tells you to)
• Your referral letter and your insurance card
• Older scans, if you have them, so the surgeon can compare changes over time

Questions worth asking

• What exactly does my scan show, and how certain is that?
• Do I need more tests first, such as a biopsy or lung function testing?
• What are the non-surgical options, including watchful monitoring?
• If surgery is advised, could it be done with a minimally invasive (keyhole or VATS) approach, and what are the risks?
• Which hospital would be used, how long would I stay, and what is the usual recovery?
• Who do I contact if symptoms get worse before the next appointment?

Consider bringing a family member to help you remember the answers.

Insurance, fees and booking: what to ask before the appointment

Ask the clinic for the consultation fee when you book, and ask whether follow-up visits are charged separately. Of the profiles on this page, only Al Tarshihi Thoracic Clinic lists an insurer (Arab Orient Insurance), so contact any other clinic directly to ask about your policy.

If surgery becomes likely, ask:

• Does my insurer need pre-approval for the operation and the hospital stay?
• Are the surgeon's fee, anaesthesia and hospital charges billed separately?
• Which hospitals does my policy cover for this procedure?

Some profiles advise confirming the doctor's attendance and the exact reception address before you visit. A quick call the day before can save a wasted trip.

Getting there

Four of the five clinics listed are in Jabal Amman. Dr. Kareem Salhiyyah's profile gives Ammon Medical complex on Ibn Khaldoun Street as its location. Dr. Riad Abdeljalil practises at King Hussein Cancer Center in Jubeiha, in the north of the city.

Amman traffic can be heavy at peak hours, particularly around central areas and the main circles. Leave extra time, and ask the clinic about parking or the best entrance when you book.

If you are coming from districts such as Khalda, Dabouq, Sweifieh or Tla' Al-Ali, check your route before you leave. Allow for the wait at reception as well.

If surgery is planned, the operation itself may take place at a hospital rather than the clinic. Amman's major hospitals include Jordan University Hospital, King Hussein Medical Center, Al-Bashir Hospital, Specialty Hospital and Istishari Hospital. Always confirm with your surgeon which hospital applies to you.

Checklist before you book

• Confirm that the surgeon's published scope (lung and chest, or heart) matches your problem
• Gather all scans on disc, plus written reports, pathology and lung function results
• Write a list of your medicines, including blood thinners
• Ask for the consultation fee and whether follow-up visits are charged
• Check whether your insurer is accepted and whether surgery needs pre-approval
• Confirm the doctor's attendance and the exact address on the day
• Prepare your questions about options, risks, the hospital and recovery
• Know the urgent warning signs, and call 911 if they appear