Pneumonectomy
Key points
- A pneumonectomy is the surgical removal of a lung, usually as a treatment for cancer.
- Most often, a traditional pneumonectomy is done to remove lung cancer.
- If you need a pneumonectomy to treat lung cancer or malignant mesothelioma, your doctor will order extensive testing of your lungs before your surgery to confirm that your remaining lung is healthy enough to take over the entire workload of breathing for your body.
- An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into a vein in your arm to deliver fluids and medications, and you will be given general anesthesia.
What Is It?
A pneumonectomy is the surgical removal of a lung, usually as a treatment for cancer. It can be done in one of two ways:
- Traditional pneumonectomy — Only the diseased lung is removed.
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy — The diseased lung is removed, together with a portion of the membrane covering the heart (pericardium), part of the diaphragm and the membrane lining the chest cavity (parietal pleura) on the same side of the chest.
Pneumonectomy removes half of a patient's breathing capacity. Because of this, surgeons usually choose a less extreme form of lung surgery in cancer patients if possible. However, a pneumonectomy is probably the best option when a tumor is located in the middle of the lung and involves a significant portion of the pulmonary artery or veins.
What It's Used For
Most often, a traditional pneumonectomy is done to remove lung cancer. A traditional pneumonectomy also may be necessary when a patient has been wounded severely in the chest.
An extrapleural pneumonectomy is sometimes a treatment option for certain patients with a type of cancer called malignant mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura (the membrane lining the chest cavity and covering the lungs) that typically is caused by exposure to asbestos.
Preparation
If you need a pneumonectomy to treat lung cancer or malignant mesothelioma, your doctor will order extensive testing of your lungs before your surgery to confirm that your remaining lung is healthy enough to take over the entire workload of breathing for your body. You also will have tests to make sure your heart is strong enough to withstand the stress of surgery.
Before your surgery is scheduled, you will have a series of scans and blood tests to confirm that the cancer has not spread (metastasized) to areas of your body outside your lungs. These scans may include a bone scan, a computed tomography (CT) scan of your abdomen and a CT scan of your head. Your doctor also will review your allergies and your medical history.
About one week before surgery, you will be told to stop taking aspirin and other blood-thinning medications. Beginning at midnight on the night before your surgery, you must not eat or drink anything. This reduces the risk of vomiting during surgery.
How It's Done
An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into a vein in your arm to deliver fluids and medications, and you will be given general anesthesia. An incision will be made in your chest on the side of the diseased lung. In most cases, the incision extends from below your shoulder blade, around your side, along the curvature of the ribs, to the front of your chest. The surgeon also may remove a portion of one rib to help to expose the lung and to give him or her enough working space.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.