Locations
Craig S Carter MD FACS PA
Clayton, NC
My office hours
Thursday: 9:00am - 4:00pm
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Practice website
Insurances accepted
Aetna
Affinity Health Plan
American Republic Insurance Company
AmeriChoice Health Services, Inc
AmeriHealth
Bankers Life and Casualty Company
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
CareSource
CHAMPUS
Cigna
Coventry Health Care
Great-West Healthcare
Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company
Humana Insurance Company
Medicaid
Medicare
Metlife Insurance Company of Connecticut
Nationwide Life Insurance Company
Tricare
United HealthCare Insurance Company
Wellpath Select Health Insurance
About
Bio
Board certified in Thoracic Surgery and General Surgery. Performing Thoracic, Vascular Surgery, as well as Wound Care. In practice for 29 years.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Thoracic Surgery
Surgery
Licenses
United States: North Carolina
Doctor Q&A
489 Answers
135 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
No: Carcinoid tumors can spread like any other cancer. Symptoms are usually related to the substances produced by the tumor making it into the circulation... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Cholesterol : Atherosclerosis occurs when cholesterol is deposited into the walls of blood vessels, usually due to dietary issues or minor trauma. This is followed ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Loss of function: Coronary artery disease can cause decreased function of the heart, which causes dysfunction of other organs, such as the lungs, liver, kidneys, etc.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: Depends on the type of lung cancer, the location, and the person's overall immune status.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Multiple: Intracranial hemorrhage can cause temporary or permanent neurologic deficits, or even death. Full recovery can also occur.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: Some mesotheliomas are found early. These are best treated by a combination of chemotherapy and surgery. Most are found when they are too far advanced... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Possibly: It is likely that the bronchitis contributed more to the emphysema leading to lung volume reduction surgery than the other way around. Control of the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Don't touch it. : Removing the knife could cause bleeding from a source which is currently controlled. It should not be removed until you are in a controlled situation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Atherosclerosis: Hardening of the arteries occurs in three principal locations: heart, brain, and legs. Symptoms usually occur where the blockage is greater than 70% o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Yes: Among lung resection cases, pneumonectomy carries a high mortality rate, especially if it is an unplanned procedure, like in a trauma case. If planned... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Standard: Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, either alone or more likely, in various combinations.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: The question is too vague. Ischemic symptoms are based on location and the extent and duration of the ischemia.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Possibly: That is the big- time question now. The only way to know the cancer is resected is to examine the specimen. Todays imaging studies will give some info... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Environmental: Plenty of stuff in the air which can lead to lung cancer, depending on the level and length of exposure. Also, radiation, radon gas, and asbestos are ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Low: Second hand smoke risk is talked about a lot, but the studies involved are estimates and extrapolations. If you are not a smoker, and with the exposur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
234 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Yes: You are not looking hard enough. The first line of treatment is physical therapy, followed by life style modification, weight loss, etc. Surgery is a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
No: That generally means chronic disease, usually inflammation, now resolved.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
234 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Talk to your doctor: If you have exercise induced arrhythmias, you should talk to your doctor about a limited exercise program before trying anything on your own. You may ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Get checked out: Depending on a persons body build, the aorta may be easily felt. A simple test may be an ultrasound to evaluate the size of the aorta or to look for l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Imaging: If the aneurysm is asymptomatic, you may never know. If you have symptoms, your doctor will order appropriate testing. Most people aren't very good at... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Too vague: Aneurysms can occur in any arterial system. The symptoms would depend on the location and size, as well as the rate of growth.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Surgery: While there are multiple methods available, the best long and short term results are with surgery. Direct or patch closure of the defect is safe, repr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Drainage: It refers to using ultrasound to assist in directing placement of a needle into the pericardial cavity for drainage of fluid.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old male asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Yes: A paralyzed diaphragm is usually treated if there are associated respiratory symptoms. This can be handled by surgical plication (shortening the diaph... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Consistent: The principal symptoms initially of a pulmonary embolism are chest pain, shortness of breath, and possibly bleeding. Long term issues are exercise int... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Musculoskeletal: Unless you have a terrible family history, you are a little too young for a heart attack. Stopping smoking can cause anxiety and tension, which can le... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Yes: Lung cancer requires specific therapy and medications. You should only be taking those medications you physician prescribes.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Yes: VATS is video assisted thoracic surgery. It was developed as a minimally invasive alternative to a full thoracotomy, and has been used widely for the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Question?: It sounds like you had a hemothorax (blood in the chest) after a pacemaker insertion, which is a possible complication. The chest tube was placed to d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Surgery: If a section of lung is involved with significant pathology, such as cancer, infection, blebs, trauma, etc, treatment can involve removal of a portion... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Removal: Removing and replacing the valve with a biologic or mechanical valve.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: Thoracic outlet syndrome is compression of the nerve, artery, and vein at the thoracic outlet at the base of the neck. This can occur because of an ex... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Organs: Cardiac surgery involves the heart and great vessels. Thoracic surgery involves the lungs, chest wall, esophagus, and great vessels. Cardiac surgeons ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Resolving a problem: A pleurodesis eliminates the space between the surface of the lung and the inside of the chest wall. This is usually done for fluid accumulation, or a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Specialized: A thoracic surgeon is trained to manage problems related to the lungs, esophagus, chest wall, diaphragm, and trachea. A cardiothoracic surgeon is also... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old male asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Multiple: You have a pacemaker in your upper chest wall. The surgery for treating a cardiac tamponade is generally a limited thoracotomy, but can still cause ch... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Varies: It depends on the condition of the child prior to surgery, as well as the underlying condition, and the procedure done. The more complicated the proce... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 56-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
No: As long as it is not dilated or aneurysmal, just being tortuous is not an issue. Your doctor is correct.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
234 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Experience: The surgeon doing an occasional esophagectomy may be good, but it is unlikely they will be as up to date in the newer details of surgery, and more imp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Not sure: Haven't heard that one. In cardiac surgery, myocardial protection is key to a good result. There are multiple methods available, for use in both on- p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Alternative: Trans-myocardial revascularization is a technique developed in the mid 1980's to get blood supply to areas of the heart not amenable to bypass surgery... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: There are multiple cardiac operations available, and they all take different times. The times are also surgeon- specific, and patient characteristics ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Dietician: Ask you hospital for a heart- healthy diet, the same they serve to cardiac patients. Otherwise, contact the american heart association.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
No: Your body's immune system will handle foreign cells, so people do not transmit cancer person to person. You can get cancer from breathing in toxins, b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Unknown: There is no way to answer that without knowing what the stage is and whether she is currently under therapy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Discussion: Most pectus excavatum patients lead totally normal lives, and repair is done for cosmetic or psychological reasons. If there are symptoms related to t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Not likely: Vascular surgery fellowships usually follow a five year general surgery residency. While it is possible for an orthopedic surgeon to follow that route... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Not necessarily: Angioplasties are supposed to be done for high- grade stenoses, and if they fail, either early or late, treatment can repeat angioplasty, medical ther... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Multiple: Depends on location, but headache, visual disturbances, neurologic findings, etc.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
Possibly: Heart disease and diabetes are associated with each other, but are not exclusive. Each can exist without the other. If there are any concerns, he can ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
4
Recommendations
291
Thank you notes
Aug 23, 2012
His answers are thoughtful, correct & show great insight
Jan 2, 2014
Exc doc
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Carter is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! My husband has Aortitis. He was very sick when they finally figured out what was wrong with him. Could an aneurism develop
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Appreciate you taking the time to respond, especially considering the superbowl is on. Thanks.
HealthTap member
Thank you very much Doc! I've been living with this for the past 6 years with no relief. It will be nice to be able to breathe properly!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Temple University School of Medicine, PA
Graduated 1981MD
Residency
Episcopal Hospital Philadelphia, PA
Residency
Loyola University Medical Center Maywood, IL
Awards
Blockley- Osler Award College of Physicians of Philadelphia 1993, 1995
Medical College of Pennsylvania Dean's Special Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching 1995, 1996
Geneva College Distinguished Service Award 2002
Affiliations
American College of Surgeons
American Medical Association
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