Lobectomy of the lung is a

surgical Surgery ''cheirourgikē'' (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via la, chirurgiae, meaning "hand work". is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a person to investigate or treat a pat ...

operation where a

lobe Lobe may refer to: People with the name * Lobe (surname) Science and healthcare * Lobe (anatomy) * Lobe, a large-scale structure of a radio galaxy * Glacial lobe, a lobe-shaped glacier * Lobation, a characteristic of the nucleus of certain biolo ...

of the

lung The lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system in humans and most other animals, including some snails and a small number of fish. In mammals and most other vertebrates, two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of t ...

is removed. It is done to remove a portion of diseased lung, such as early

stage Stage or stages may refer to: Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage" * ''The Stage'', a weekly British theatre newspaper * Sta ...

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissue (biology), tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from tran ...

. In addition to cancer, a lobectomy can also help to treat such things as a fungal infection,

emphysema Emphysema, or pulmonary emphysema, is a lower respiratory tract disease, characterised by air-filled spaces ( pneumatoses) in the lungs, that can vary in size and may be very large. The spaces are caused by the breakdown of the walls of the alve ...

and

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

Administration

The most common type of lobectomy is known as a

thoracotomy A thoracotomy is a surgical procedure to gain access into the pleural space of the chest. It is performed by surgeons (emergency physicians or paramedics under certain circumstances) to gain access to the thoracic organs, most commonly the hea ...

. When this type of surgery is done the chest is opened up. An incision will be made on the side of the chest where the affected area of the lung is located. The incision will be in between the two ribs located in that area. The surgeon will then be able to have access to the chest cavity once the two involved ribs have been pried open. The surgeon will then be able to remove the lobe where the problem is contained. Another less invasive lobectomy procedure can be performed through a video assisted surgery, where the surgeon does not need to pry the two ribs open in order to get access. A few small incisions are made and surgical tools are inserted into the chest cavity aided by a small video camera. The video images will be projected onto a screen that the surgeon can see. Once the problem area is located the small tools that were previously inserted will be utilized to perform the surgery. Once the surgery is complete, the patient will remain in the intensive care unit of the hospital for a day. They will then remain in a regular hospital room for about 4 to 7 days.

Risks

As with any surgery, complications may occur. Post lobectomy air leak is a significant clinical problem, and patients undergoing pulmonary resections often present with postoperative air leaks. Other risk factors include infections, reactions to anesthesia, bleeding,

pneumothorax A pneumothorax is an abnormal collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. Symptoms typically include sudden onset of sharp, one-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. In a minority of cases, a one-way valve ...

and

bronchopleural fistula A bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a fistula between the pleural space and the lung. It can develop following pneumonectomy, lung ablation, post-traumatically, or with certain types of infection. It may also develop when large airways are in communi ...

. The main infection that a patient runs the risk of is

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

. Pneumothorax occurs when there is air trapped between the lung and the chest wall. This can lead to the patients lung collapsing. A bronchopleural fistula is when there is a tube like opening that allows air to escape. Minimally invasive surgery is beneficial for patient outcome, with reduced risk of complications.

After

Once the surgery is complete, the patient will remain in the intensive care unit of the hospital for a day. They will then remain in a regular hospital room for about 4 to 7 days. After the patient returns home they typically remain in recovery for about four to six weeks, although some patients may be able to return to work and normal activities sooner. Pain is very common amongst patients for quite some time after a lobectomy and doctors will usually prescribe pain medication to help with this. Chest tubes are left inside the patient in order to help excess fluid drain and are removed after a few days. Before removal, doctors must ensure that there is no air or fluid leaking from them. In addition to this, follow up appointments will be scheduled with the patients doctor. X-rays will be taken of the patient's lung to make sure everything is healing properly. Patients that have had a lobectomy with no major risks shall recover in no longer than three months. File:Diagram showing the removal of one lobe of the lung (lobectomy) CRUK 366.svg, Removal of one lobe of the lung File:Diagram showing the removal of two lobes of the lung (bilobectomy) CRUK 367.svg, Removal of two lobes of the lung

References

External links

Video
of minimally invasive lung lobectomy * {{Commons category-inline Lung cancer Surgical oncology Surgical removal procedures Pulmonary thoracic surgery

Administration

Risks

After

See also

References

External links