What you need to know about lung resection

When a doctor tells you or someone you know that they need to remove part or all of their lungs through surgery, it's normal to feel a great burden and fear. " How can I live without a lung?" "Isn't this a big operation?" Many questions probably come to mind. But in fact, this is the best solution for some medical conditions, which is now being performed very successfully with the advancement of medical science. So today, let's talk about this lung surgery, or 'Lung Resection' as it is called in medical science, in a very simple way, in a way that you can understand.

Simply put, what is lung resection?

This is what lung surgery, or 'pulmonary resection', is all about. Simply put, it involves surgically removing a diseased or damaged part of your lung, or the entire lung. This may be due to cancer, a severe infection, or another medical condition. Sometimes, a biopsy is also done to take a piece of tissue for testing to determine the exact cause of the disease.

We have two lungs inside our chest. Each of these lungs is divided into smaller sections, like the pith of an orange. We call these 'lobes' or slices. Your right lung has three lobes and your left lung has two lobes . So in this surgery, a lobe, part of a lobe, or the entire lung can be removed. The first thing you need to remember is that even though this is a major surgery, you can still live a normal life even if you have just one lung or part of a lung removed.

What are the types of lung surgeries?

There are several ways to perform this surgery. It depends on the nature of the disease and the size of the lung that needs to be removed. Let's look at the main types.

What types of conditions is this surgery performed for?

There are many reasons why lung surgery may be performed. The main ones are:

• Lung cancer: Especially for early-stage (stages I, II, and possibly III) cancers.
• When cancer from other organs spreads to the lungs: We call this 'metastatic cancer'.
• Benign tumors or lung nodules.
• Bronchiectasis: A condition in which the airways become permanently dilated and filled with mucus.
• Emphysema : A condition in which the air sacs in the lungs are damaged, causing difficulty breathing.
• Lung abscesses or boils.
• Severe damage to the lungs due to an accident.

The two main methods of performing the surgery

Surgeons mainly use two methods to perform this operation.

1. Thoracoscopic Surgery: This is the method that is done with minimal incisions. We also call this as VATS (Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) for short. Here, a few small holes are made in the chest, a thin tube with a camera (Thoracoscope) is inserted through it, and the surgery is performed using special equipment while watching on a monitor. When it is done using robotic technology, we call it RVATS (Robotic VATS). The advantage of this method is that it is less painful and heals faster.

2. Open Surgery / Thoracotomy: This is a slightly larger surgery. In this, the surgeon makes a small incision in your abdomen, opens your chest between two ribs, and reaches your lungs. This procedure is usually used to remove a large portion of a lung or in complex cases.

How do you prepare before surgery?

A surgery like this requires good preparation. Your doctor will give you the best advice on this.

• You will need to fast (abstain from eating and drinking) for several hours before the surgery.
• You should tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including vitamins and supplements. Some medications (especially blood thinners) may need to be stopped a few days before surgery.
• If you are a smoker, you should definitely quit . Quitting smoking can greatly reduce the risk of complications after surgery.
• Be prepared for a few days in the hospital. Also, arrange for someone to pick you up when you get home.
• Before surgery, several things will need to be done, such as blood tests, lung function tests, chest X-ray, CT scan, and heart tests (ECG) .

What happens after surgery? Let's learn about the recovery period

After the surgery, you will be kept in a recovery room until you wake up, and then transferred to a ward. You will usually stay in the hospital for two to three days to a week. This time will depend on the type of surgery you had and how quickly you recover.

After surgery , a chest tube will be placed in your chest to remove excess fluid and air that accumulates in your chest. This is usually left in place for a day or two and then removed.

You may feel a little short of breath and tired at first. This is normal. The medical staff will teach you how to breathe deeply and do coughing exercises to keep your lungs working properly. You may also be given oxygen for a short time.

Recovery time varies from person to person.

• If the surgery is done through a small incision like VATS , you will be able to resume normal activities in about two weeks.
• If it's a major surgery like a thoracotomy , it can take a month or more to fully recover.

Are there risks and complications?

As with any major surgery, there are some risks involved, and it's important to be aware of them.

• Air leak from the lungs
• Heartbeat irregularities (Arrhythmia)
• Blood accumulation in the chest (Hemothorax)
• Infections such as pneumonia
• Infections in cuts
• Blood clot in the lungs (Pulmonary embolism)
• Reactions to anesthesia

Your medical team is doing its best to minimize these risks. You can further reduce these risks by avoiding smoking and following your doctor's instructions carefully.

When to seek immediate medical advice

After returning home, it is very important to act quickly if any danger signs appear.

Can a removed lung regenerate?

No. Unlike our liver, lung tissue does not regrow after it is surgically removed. But the body adapts to this change. The remaining lung tissue begins to function more efficiently. So over time, you may not notice much of a difference.

Lung surgery, Lung Resection, Lung cancer, Lobectomy, Thoracotomy, VATS, Postoperative recovery