Scared about lung resection? Let's talk about it simply!

It's normal for a doctor to feel a little nervous and anxious when they tell you that part of your lung needs to be surgically removed. "Are you removing a piece of my lung?" is a question that immediately comes to mind. But what exactly is this? Why is it being done? Once you know exactly what it is, your fear will be greatly reduced. So let's talk about this simply, from A to Z.

Simply put, what is lung resection?

A lung resection, or in medical terms, a pulmonary resection, is the surgical removal of part or all of your lung. This is usually done to remove a part of the lung that has been damaged by cancer, infection, or another medical condition. Sometimes, a biopsy is also used to take a sample of tissue to test for a specific diagnosis.

You know that we have two lungs in our body. Each of these lungs is divided into parts called "lobes". The left lung has two lobes and the right lung has three lobes. So this surgery can remove an entire lobe, part of a lobe, or the entire lung.

What types of surgeries are these?

These surgeries are divided into several types depending on the size of the lung section that is removed. To understand these in a simple way, see the table below.

Why do you have this kind of surgery?

There are two main reasons for performing lung surgery. One is to treat a disease, and the other is to diagnose the exact cause of the disease.

• Lung cancer - especially early stage cancer.
• Cancer that has spread to the lungs from other organs (Metastatic cancer).
• Benign lung tumors or lung nodules are non-cancerous but benign lumps.
• Some severe lung infections, abscesses.
• Chronic lung diseases such as bronchiectasis or emphysema.
• Lung damage from a serious accident.

Also, sometimes these surgeries are performed to obtain a piece of tissue (biopsy) to accurately diagnose a problem in the lungs. For example:

• Confirm whether it is cancer or not.
• Check for an infection like tuberculosis.
• Identify other lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis.

How is the surgery performed? There are two methods!

There are two main methods for performing lung surgery. Your doctor will choose the most appropriate one based on your condition.

1. Thoracoscopic Surgery

This is a modern minimally invasive procedure that involves a few small incisions on the chest or side.Only one is inserted. A thin tube with a camera attached to it, called a ``Thoracoscope,'' is inserted through one of the incisions, and surgical instruments are inserted through the other incisions. The ``(RVATS)'' method, which uses robotic technology, also belongs to this category. The advantages of this method are:

• The pain is less after the surgery.
• The risk of complications is low.
• You can recover quickly and resume normal activities.

2. Open Surgery (Open Surgery - Thoracotomy)

This is the traditional method. Here, a slightly longer incision is made on the side of the chest, and the lungs are accessed between two ribs. This is a slightly larger operation, so the recovery time is longer.

How should you prepare before surgery?

For the surgery to be successful, you need to be prepared. It is very important to follow your doctor's instructions exactly.

• Fasting: You will be asked to stop eating and drinking for a few hours before the surgery.
• Medications: You should tell your doctor about any medications you are taking. Some medications (especially blood thinners) may need to be stopped or the dosage adjusted before surgery. Do not stop any medications without your doctor's advice.
• Smoking: If you are a smoker, you should definitely quit smoking at least a few weeks before surgery.
• Hospital stay: You will be in the hospital for a few days, so prepare the necessary clothing. Also, arrange a vehicle to get home from the hospital.
• Tests: Before surgery, you may be asked to do things like blood tests, chest X-rays, CT scans, and pulmonary function tests.

What happens after the surgery?

After the surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room. Once you regain consciousness, you will be transferred to a ward.

• Hospital stay: You may need to stay in the hospital for two to three days, depending on the type of surgery you had and your recovery rate.
• Chest Tubes: A chest tube (drain tube) is placed in the chest to remove excess fluid and air that accumulates around the lungs after surgery. This is usually left in place for a day or two and then removed.
• Shortness of breath: You may feel a little short of breath in the first few days. This is normal. The medical staff will teach you to breathe deeply and cough to keep your lungs working properly.
• Recovery time: If you had an open surgery (Thoracotomy), it may take about a month to return to normal activities. However, if you had a more modern procedure like VATS, you can be back to normal in about two weeks.

Aren't there any risks to this surgery?

Some possible complications are:

• Air leak
• Irregular heartbeat (Arrhythmia)
• Bleeding in the lungs (Hemothorax)
• Pneumonia
• Cut wound infection
• Pulmonary embolism
• Reactions to sleep-inducing medications

Your doctor will explain these things to you thoroughly before the surgery.

If you have these symptoms, pay attention immediately!

It's important to act quickly if you have any problems after returning home. Be on the lookout for the following symptoms.

Can this surgery completely cure cancer?

In the early stages of lung cancer, this surgery has a very high chance of completely curing the cancer. But no one can say it is 100% effective. Sometimes, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be required after surgery to prevent the cancer cells from coming back.

Can parts of the lung that have been surgically removed regrow?

No. Unlike our liver, lung tissue does not regenerate after it is surgically removed. However, the remaining lung tissue will eventually begin to function properly to provide the body with the required amount of oxygen.