Learn about Pneumonectomy, the surgery to completely remove one lung.

Anyone who hears about having an entire lung surgically removed is a little apprehensive, right? It's a major operation. But the most important thing you need to know is that in some cases, especially in cases like lung cancer, it can be a life-saving procedure. So today, let's talk about this surgery called Pneumonectomy, its pros and cons, and what happens after the surgery in a simple, understandable way.

Simply put, what is this Pneumonectomy?

A pneumonectomy is the surgical removal of one of your lungs. We have two lungs, one on the right and one on the left. If the right lung is removed, it is called a right-sided pneumonectomy, and if the left lung is removed, it is called a left-sided pneumonectomy.

This is considered the largest lung resection because it is more complex than surgeries such as ``lobectomy`` or ``wedge resection``, which remove only a small portion of the lung.

There are two main types of pneumonectomy surgery:

• Simple/Standard Pneumonectomy: This involves removing your entire lung, and possibly some of the nearby nerves and tissue.
• Extrapleural Pneumonectomy: This is a slightly larger operation. In this, the surgeon removes the following:
• Full lung.
• Pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and chest wall.
• The covering around the heart (pericardium).
• Parts of the diaphragm, the muscle beneath the lungs.

Surgeons use two methods to perform this surgery. One is a traditional thoracotomy, which involves cutting open the chest. The other is a small incision called video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Although VATS is less invasive, it is not suitable for all patients.

What types of conditions is this surgery performed for?

This surgery is often performed as a treatment for cancers that have spread to or from the lungs. However, it can also be a solution for several other conditions. Let's take a look at what they are.

Who is suitable for this surgery?

Doctors will decide whether you are suitable for this surgery based on several factors.

• If your cancer is only in one lung (and hasn't spread to other areas) and you can achieve a complete cure by removing the lung.
• Depending on the location of the cancer, it may not be possible to completely remove it without removing the entire lung .
• If your heart, blood vessels, and remaining lung are in good enough health to withstand the surgery .

Also, this surgery is not usually recommended for people with insufficient lung function, serious heart valve disease, or poor blood pumping ability.

What happens before and during the surgery?

A few days or weeks before surgery, your doctor will do several tests to check how your heart and lungs are working. These may include pulmonary function tests, echocardiograms, CT scans, chest X-rays, and blood tests.

On the day of the surgery, you will be fully anesthetized, so you will not feel any pain, and you will not remember anything that happened. The surgeon will make an incision between two of your ribs on your side and back, move the ribs apart a little to reach the lung. Then, the air in the lung is removed and carefully removed. If necessary, other damaged tissue is removed and the incision is sewn back together. This entire process can take several hours.

What happens after the surgery?

After the surgery, you will need to stay in the hospital for a few days. During this time, the medical team will monitor your oxygen levels and heart rate, and will give you medication to control the pain.

What happens to the empty space after the lung is removed?

This is a problem that many people have. When a lung is removed, the space fills with air. But gradually, over a few days, the space fills with body fluid . Over time, your heart, diaphragm, and other organs push a little bit into that space. Your remaining lung also gets bigger and adjusts to its new position.

What are the benefits and risks of this surgery?

Like any major surgery, pneumonectomy has both benefits and risks. It is important to discuss these openly with your doctor.

Recovering and living with one lung

It may take several months to fully recover. During this time, you may find it difficult to function normally.

• There will be restrictions on activities such as lifting weights and driving.
• You will feel more tired than usual and will need to rest more often.
• There may be some difficulty breathing.

Some of these will go away as you heal, while others may become your "new normal." It will take time to adjust to it.

How to make the healing process easier?

• Follow the doctor's instructions exactly. Do the exercises and breathing exercises exactly as prescribed.
• Take your medicine on time.
• Be sure to go on the days when they say come back to show you.
• If you have any problems or difficulties, talk to the doctor about it.

How long you can live with one lung depends on factors such as the reason for the surgery, your age, and your overall health. The life expectancy of someone who has had surgery for another infection may be different than someone who has had surgery for cancer.

When to seek immediate medical advice

If you experience the following symptoms during your recovery, call your doctor immediately :

• If blood is seeping through the bandage of the surgical wound.
• If there is a foul-smelling, different-colored fluid coming from around the wound.
• If you have a cough with a lot of mucus or mucus that is discolored.
• Fever.
• Pain that cannot be controlled even with medication.

If you have the following symptoms, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately:

• Coughing up blood.
• Severe difficulty breathing.
• Sudden chest pain with difficulty breathing.
• Loss of consciousness.

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