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Lung surgery

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Pulmonary lobectomy  - series
Pulmonary lobectomy - series

Alternative Names    Return to top

Thoracotomy; Lung tissue removal; Pneumonectomy; Lobectomy; Lung biopsy; Thoracoscopy; Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; VATS

Definition    Return to top

Lung surgery is surgery to repair or remove lung tissue. Several common lung surgeries are:

A thoracotomy is an incision (cut) that a surgeon makes to open the chest wall. You will have a thoracotomy if you have open lung surgery.

See also:

Description    Return to top

You will receive general anesthesia before surgery. This will make you unconscious and unable to feel pain. Two common ways to do surgery on your lungs are thoracotomy and video-assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS).

Lung surgery using a thoracotomy is called open surgery. In this surgery:

Video-assisted thorascopic surgery:

Why the Procedure is Performed    Return to top

Thoracotomy or video-assisted thorascopic surgery may be done to:

Video-assisted thorascopic surgery can be used to treat many of these conditions. But your surgeon may need to work in a larger area of your chest than this surgery will allow. In that case, you will need open surgery.

Risks    Return to top

Risks for any anesthesia are:

Risks for any surgery are:

Risks of this surgery are:

Before the Procedure    Return to top

You will have many doctor visits and medical tests before you have surgery. Your doctor will:

If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking several weeks before your surgery. Ask your doctor or nurse for help.

Always tell your doctor or nurse:

During the week before your surgery:

On the day of your surgery:

After the Procedure    Return to top

Most people stay in the hospital for 5 to 7 days for open thoracotomy and 1 to 3 days after video-assisted thorascopic surgery. You may spend time in the intensive care unit (ICU) after either surgery.

During your hospital stay, you will:

Outlook (Prognosis)    Return to top

The outcome depends on the type of problem being treated, how much of the lung is removed, and how ill you are before surgery.

References    Return to top

Smythe WR, Reznik SI, Putnam JB Jr. Lung (including pulmonary embolism and thoracic outlet syndrome). In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 59.

Update Date: 2/17/2009

Updated by: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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