Aims & Scope
Annals of Thoracic Surgery is a peer-reviewed, open access journal published by Directive Publications, dedicated to general and oncologic thoracic surgery. The journal publishes original research, reviews, technical notes, and case reports spanning video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), minimally invasive and robotic approaches, pulmonary resection for lung cancer, esophageal and foregut surgery, mediastinal and pleural disease, chest wall reconstruction, airway surgery, and thoracic trauma.
We welcome work that advances surgical technique and patient outcomes, including comparative studies of VATS and thoracotomy, peripheral pulmonary nodule management, esophagectomy and anastomotic methods, surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma, tracheobronchoplasty, and enhanced recovery protocols. Translational, outcomes-based, and methodological contributions are equally encouraged.
The journal serves thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeons, surgical oncologists, pulmonologists, residents, and clinician-researchers seeking a rigorous, internationally accessible venue. Every submission undergoes double-blind peer review; accepted articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) licence with authors retaining copyright, assigned a permanent Crossref DOI, and made discoverable through OpenAlex, Google Scholar, and an OAI-PMH endpoint, in line with COPE ethical principles.
Subject Coverage
Annals of Thoracic Surgery welcomes original research, reviews, and case reports across the following core areas:
Research Topics
Core subject areas published in Annals of Thoracic Surgery — explore related research across our journals.
Articles
Retinal Artery Embolization: A Rare Presentation Of Calcific Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis
Subcutaneous thoracic liposarcoma: a case report
Features of Low-Dose Computed Tomography Scan Are Linked to the Annual Hospitalization Risk
Comparison of end-to-end Gambee anastomosis and triangular anastomosis for esophagogastric anastomosis after subtotal esophagectomy in patients With Thoracic Esophageal Cancer: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Clinical Results of Tracheobronchoplasty Using Polytetrafluoroethylene Vascular Graft with Rings
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics does Annals of Thoracic Surgery cover?
The journal covers general and oncologic thoracic surgery, including video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), minimally invasive and robotic lung resection, pulmonary nodule and lung cancer surgery, esophageal and foregut surgery, mediastinal and pleural disease, chest wall reconstruction, airway surgery such as tracheobronchoplasty, and thoracic trauma.
Who should publish in or read Annals of Thoracic Surgery?
The journal is aimed at thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeons, surgical oncologists, pulmonologists, residents and fellows, and clinician-researchers who study chest surgery techniques and outcomes. Authors with original research, reviews, technical notes, or case reports in these areas are encouraged to submit.
How do I submit a manuscript to Annals of Thoracic Surgery?
You can submit through the journal's Submit page on Directive Publications. Prepare your manuscript per the author guidelines, ensure ethical and reporting standards are met, and upload it for double-blind peer review. The editorial team handles thoracic surgery research, reviews, and case reports.
What article types does the journal accept?
Annals of Thoracic Surgery accepts original research articles, systematic reviews and narrative reviews, surgical technique and technical notes, comparative outcomes studies, case reports and case series (for example VATS wedge resection or thoracic liposarcoma), and editorials relevant to thoracic surgery.
Is Annals of Thoracic Surgery open access, and who holds the copyright?
Yes. All articles are published open access under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) licence, and authors retain copyright. Articles are freely readable worldwide and may be reused with attribution, maximizing the reach and citation of thoracic surgery research.
How does peer review work and is there an article-processing charge?
Every submission undergoes double-blind peer review following COPE ethical principles. An article-processing charge applies only on acceptance, and waivers or discounts are available on request; contact the editorial office for current details and eligibility.
Do articles receive a DOI and are they discoverable by search engines?
Yes. Each accepted article is assigned a permanent Crossref DOI for stable citation and is made discoverable through OpenAlex, Google Scholar, and the journal's OAI-PMH endpoint, supporting long-term availability and indexing of the scholarly record.
Is this the same as the Society of Thoracic Surgeons journal?
No. This Annals of Thoracic Surgery is an independent open access journal published by Directive Publications (online ISSN 3064-7517). It is a distinct venue focused on freely accessible, peer-reviewed thoracic surgery research and is not affiliated with society-published journals of similar name.