Thoracic surgery is a broad topic that goes beyond the confines of this chapter. For a more detailed review of thoracic surgery, consider studying a dedicated thoracic surgery text. The purpose of this chapter is to review common problems and conditions related to general thoracic surgery that can be encountered by a wide variety of clinicians who are not thoracic surgeons. Clinicians practicing in ambulatory care, emergency medicine, and critical care often encounter issues that require a basic fund of knowledge in thoracic surgery. In this chapter, we will cover common disease processes such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, rib fractures, pneumomediastinum, lung abscess & empyema, chest tube management, malignant pleural effusion, anterior mediastinal mass, lung cancer, and esophageal perforations. Common pearls include respective etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of said diseases.