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Home > CA Providers > Cardiothoracic Surgeons

Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD

(Patricia Thistlethwaite, MD, PhD)

(64 Ratings)

Specializes in: Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Oncology (Cancer Care) and Transplant Surgery

Harvard Medical School

Professional interests include: cancer, thoracic aortic aneurysm, minimally invasive thoracic surgery, and more.

3855 Health Sciences Drive
San Diego, CA 92037

(858) 657-7777

Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD is a cardiothoracic surgeon in San Diego, CA specializing in cardiothoracic surgery, general surgery, thoracic surgery, oncology (cancer care) and transplant surgery. She graduated from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD is affiliated with UC San Diego Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and UC San Diego Health.

Office Locations

3855 Health Sciences Drive
San Diego, CA 92037

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11301 Wilshire Boulevard Greater Los Angeles Vahcs (691)
Los Angeles, CA 90073

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4250 First Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103

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Some issues Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD can help you with:

Lung Transplant

Patients who have very severe lung disease may need a lung transplant. The diseased lung is entirely removed and replaced with a healthy lung, usually donated by a person who died. Either one or both lungs can be transplanted.

Contrary to popular belief, lung transplant is rarely used to treat lung cancer. It is a more common treatment for patients with other advanced lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Lung transplant is a serious operation and is generally used as a last resort for patients who have only a short time to live without surgery.

During a transplant, an incision is made on the side of the chest (for a single lung) or in the middle (for both lungs). Patients may be hooked up to a heart-lung bypass machine, which will do the work of moving blood and oxygen through the body during the procedure. After the diseased lung is cut away from the main airway and blood vessels, the donor lung is stitched into place. Surgery may take as long as twelve hours, and a hospital stay of two to three weeks after surgery is not uncommon. For the first hours or day after surgery, patients use a ventilator, or a machine to help them breathe. Tubes will be inserted into the chest to help drain excess air and fluid. During recovery, physical therapy and breathing exercises are used to help the new lung work as well as possible.

Lung capacity is carefully monitored for several months after surgery. Patients who have had a transplant will also have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives. These drugs stop the body's immune system from attacking the new lung. The main risks after a transplant are infection and rejection (when the immune system attacks the 'foreign' lung). A healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a diet high in vegetables and lean protein, not smoking, and getting enough exercise, is important to keeping the lungs functioning as well as possible. With proper care, many patients can live ten or even twenty years after a lung transplant.

In The News

“We asked Dr. Patricia Thistlethwaite, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the University of California San Diego and the first female program director of thoracic surgery in the nation, to shed more light...”—"Women see big increase in lung cancer", The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 2012

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2013

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	46
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	0
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2014

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	72
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	64
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	44
Diabetes	48
Dementia	0
Cancer	52

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2015

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	52
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	62
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	0
Dementia	0
Cancer	52

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD.

**Gender**
Male	23
Female	14

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	21
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	17
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	68
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	54
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	32
Heart Failure	59
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	32
Diabetes	30
Dementia	0
Cancer	41

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD treated as a cardiothoracic surgeon in San Diego, CA during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD for Medicare patients.

hospital care	338
inpatient care	338

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD.

**Gender**
Male	119
Female	69

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	113
Black	14
Hispanic	45
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	79
From 75 to 84	51
85 and over	11
Less than 65	47

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	60
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	36
Heart Failure	66
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	41
Diabetes	43
Dementia	14
Cancer	22

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD treated as a cardiothoracic surgeon in San Diego, CA during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD for Medicare patients.

hospital care	14
inpatient care	14

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD.

**Gender**
Male	27
Female	20

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	31
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	25
From 75 to 84	11
85 and over	0
Less than 65	11

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2018

Hypertension	74
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	72
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	49
Diabetes	36
Dementia	0
Cancer	40

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD treated as a cardiothoracic surgeon in San Diego, CA during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	47
hospital care	14
inpatient care	14

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD.

**Gender**
Male	37
Female	38

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	43
Black	0
Hispanic	12
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	39
From 75 to 84	20
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2019

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	35
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	41
Diabetes	28
Dementia	0
Cancer	45

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	41

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD.

**Gender**
Male	30
Female	18

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	25
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	21
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2020

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	52
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	48
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	35
Dementia	23
Cancer	54

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD.

**Gender**
Male	15
Female	13

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2021

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	46
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	43
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	0
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	12

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD.

**Gender**
Male	21
Female	18

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	19
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	21
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2022

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	38
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	38
Diabetes	28
Dementia	0
Cancer	49

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	17

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD.

**Gender**
Male	34
Female	25

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	40
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	29
From 75 to 84	19
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2023

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	20
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	36
Diabetes	32
Dementia	0
Cancer	29

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD treated as a cardiothoracic surgeon in San Diego, CA were hospital care and inpatient care.

doctor visit	25
hospital care	122
inpatient care	122

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD.

**Gender**
Female	17
Male	25

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	1
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	24
Hispanic	4
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	0
75 to 84	8
Less than 65	4
65 to 74	19

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD From 2012 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	1
Ischemic Heart Disease	50
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	39
Asthma	1
Osteoporosis	2
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	23
Atrial Fibrillation	8
Dementia	3
Cancer	32

Education & Training

Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD graduated from Harvard Medical School. She completed residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is certified by the Board Certification: General Surgery and has a state license in California.

Medical School: Harvard Medical School

Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital

Board Certification: Board Certification: General Surgery

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

UC San Diego Health

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

UC San Diego Health

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.81 out of 5 stars based on 64 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD from all over the web to help you find the right in San Diego, CA.

4.81

Overall Rating

(64 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
United Therapeutics Corporation	$1,523 TYVASO $1,523
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$469 Da Vinci Surgical System $469
Covidien LP	$252 Endo GIA $147	$104
St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$175 Tailor Flexible Ring and Band $175
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation	$174 Pericardial Heart Valves $111	MITRIS RESILIA Mitral Valve $33	Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT Magna Pericardial Aortic Bioprosthesis $30
Other	$664 EXALT $122	SURGICAL $101	ECM Patch $92	PREVELEAK $52	Cardiovascular $51	Other $245

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$1,878
Travel and Lodging	$1,379

Biography

Dr. Patricia Thistlethwaite is a general practice, general surgery, and oncology (cancer care) specialist in San Diego, CA and Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Thistlethwaite's average rating from her patients is 5.0 stars (out of 5). These areas are among her clinical interests: lung transplant, heart transplant, and cancer. She is affiliated with UC San Diego Health, Regents of the University of California, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She attended medical school at Harvard Medical School. Her residency was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD

Office Locations

Some issues Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD can help you with:

In The News

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2013

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2014

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2015

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2016

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2017

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2018

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2019

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2020

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2021

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2022

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD in 2023

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2023

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2023

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PHD From 2012 - 2023

Education & Training

Affiliations & Hospitals

Ratings & Reviews

General Payments

Biography

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