Lung surgery

Definition

Lung surgery is surgery done to repair or remove lung tissue. There are many common lung surgeries, including:

A thoracotomy is a surgical cut that a surgeon makes to open the chest wall.

Alternative Names

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

Description

You will have general anesthesia before surgery. You will be asleep and unable to feel pain. Two common ways to do surgery on your lungs are thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Robotic surgery may also be used.

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

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery:

Why the Procedure Is Performed

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

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery can be used to treat many of these conditions. In some cases, video surgery may not be possible, and the surgeon may have to switch to an open surgery during the operation.

Risks

Risks of this surgery include:

Before the Procedure

You will have several visits with your health care provider and undergo medical tests before your surgery. Your provider will:

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

Always tell your provider and surgeon:

During the week before your surgery:

On the day of your surgery:

After the Procedure

Most people stay in the hospital for 5 to 7 days after open thoracotomy. The hospital stay for a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is most often shorter. You may spend time in the intensive care unit (ICU) after either surgery.

During your hospital stay, you will:

Outlook (Prognosis)

The outcome depends on:

References

Feller-Kopman DJ, Decamp MM. Interventional and surgical approaches to lung disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 87.

Lumb A, Thomas C. Pulmonary surgery. In: Lumb A, Thomas C, eds. Nunn and Lumb's Applied Respiratory Physiology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 33.

Pfeifer K, Smetana GW. Preoperative evaluation. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 34.

Wald O, Izhar U, Sugar baker DJ. Lung chest wall, pleura and mediastinum. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 58.


Review Date: 5/13/2024
Reviewed By: Mary C. Mancini, MD, PhD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Shreveport, LA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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