Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery

Thoracic Surgery

The department performs >1000 operations per year within thoracic surgery.
We perform treatment within e.g. lung cancer (including VATS, lobectomies, pneumonectomies, chest wall resections, segmentectomies), metastasectomies, esophageal cancer, pneumothorax, emphysema, trauma (incl. chest wall stabilization), tracheal resections, sympatectomies, endobronchiale valves (EBV), lung biopsy, pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum.

Many operations are performed as key hole surgery (Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)).

Vascular Surgery

As part of a major tertiary referral hospital, the department treats multiple acute and chronic vascular disorders. The vascular surgery team offers endovascular, open surgical, as well as hybrid treatments for peripheral vascular disease, extracranial carotid disease and aortic repair. It is the national referral centre for complex aortic disease, e.g., juxta/pararenal abdominal aortic aneurysms and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, as well as aortic infections (mycotic aneurysms). The department is also integrally involved with several multi-disciplinary teams, including diabetic  wound care, complex oncological surgery, cerebrovascular and renovascular disease.

The outpatient clinic provides evaluation of referred patients, as well as routine follow-up for previously referred and/or treated patients with routine access to core vascular laboratory diagnostic tools, such as ultrasound equipment and ankle/toe blood pressure evaluation.

Access to modern open and endovascular surgical theatres is available  every day, while advanced hybrid and endovascular procedures take place in the hybrid suite, available 2-3 times per week. In addition to routine availability of mobile C-arm fluoroscopy in all operating rooms, the hybrid suite provides modern utilization of fusion imaging technology for complex endovascular procedures.

Our research is based on the four specialities of the department: cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery as well as the anaesthesiology related to these fields.

Visit our research site (at au.dk)

Clinical Internships and Trainee positions

The department is open for short term unpaid internships and trainee positions for both clinicians and medical students.
For more information contact:
Per Lehnert, Senior Registrar, Associate Professor, MD, PhD. E-mail: per.lehnert@rm.dk

Graduate programme (PhD)

Aarhus University Hospital offers graduate educations in collaboration with Aarhus University, Faculty of Health.
For more information on open calls and application procedures, link: https://clin.au.dk/en/

Pre-graduate education

All pre-graduate education on Aarhus University Hospital is conducted in Danish. Information regarding this can be found via link (English information): https://clin.au.dk/en/

Courses

We organize post-graduate and continuing education courses for doctors at the University´s excellent animal facilities, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University. It is based at Aarhus University Hospital. Many of our courses are organized in collaboration with the Danish Board of Health. Read more about the international courses: https://clin.au.dk/en/

Education in Cardiovascular Technology

The Scandinavian School of Cardiovascular Technology is a joint venture education aimed primarily at Scandinavian perfusionists as a science based education at masters level. 

The Scandinavian School of Cardiovascular Technology

The Central Region in Denmark physically and administratively houses the school; Diploma for completed theoretical education is issued by Aarhus University and the European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (EBCP) accredits it. Completion of the practical education at the students "home clinic" and the theoretical education at Aarhus University Hospital automatically qualifies to EBCP certification.

The Scandinavian School of Cardiovascular Technology is a collaborative educational programme designed primarily for Scandinavian perfusionists. It offers a science-based curriculum at Master's level, combining academic study with hands-on clinical training. The specialist education in cardiovascular technology is physically and administratively linked to Aarhus University Hospital. The programme is fully accredited by the European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (EBCP). By successfully completing both the practical training at their designated home clinic and the theoretical modules in Aarhus, graduates automatically meet the requirements for the EBCP certification.

Students are employed by their affiliated “home clinic” for a two-year period, where they receive hands-on training in extracorporeal circulation used during open-heart surgery and related procedures. As part of their education, students attend three intensive modules at Aarhus University Hospital. Each module with a duration of six weeks provides advanced theoretical and practical instruction. In the final module, students focus entirely on a scientific project. This includes conducting original research, writing a thesis, and publicly presenting and defending their findings.

From the summer of 2026, the theoretical part of this education will move completely to Aarhus University and be offered as an accredited masters’s degree.

Head of the Scandinavian School of Cardiovascular Technology: Søren Nielsen Skov, MSc, PhD, Perfusionist, Associate Professor, mail: soeren.skov@clin.au.dk

Education of Biomedical Engineering students

In collaboration with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Technical Sciences and the Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University. Biomedical engineering students are exposed to our clinical training through 2 week study visits. These visits give the students an important insight into clinical practice and interaction with both patients, nurses and doctors in our Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery.

Our department also teaches theoretical courses in cardiovascular pathology and biomedical science technology and presentation.

Course coordinator: Søren Nielsen Skov, MSc, PhD, Perfusionist, Associate Professor, mail: soeren.skov@clin.au.dk