Three Forms Of Lung Surgery, And What They Mean

There are three major forms of lung surgery, each with their own terminology. Insight the different types of lung surgery may make you more comfortable about your own lung surgery, and will allow you to discuss procedures and options more actually with your doctor. The three main types of lung surgery are a wedge resection, also referred to as a segmentectomy; a lobectomy; and a pneumonectomy. The remainder of this article will explore each of the three types of lung surgery in detail; when each one might be requisite and the different risks associated with each one.

The first policy is a wedge resection, or a segmentectomy. This is traditionally the least invasive and easiest surgery. In this lung surgery, a small section, or wedge, is removed from the lung. This policy is minimally invasive, and in some cases, segmentectomies may be performed with an endoscope, as part of a thoracoscopy. This procedure, however, is not common, and open surgery is required most of the time. Unfortunately, the opportunity of recurrence in cancer is higher when this form of lung surgery is used. However, because only a small section of the lobe is removed, this may be the best surgery if the decrease in lung function that accompanies a lobectomy or pneumonectomy would have serious condition risks or consequences.

The lobectomy is the second method, and the most coarse of the three. In cases where a pneumonectomy is not required and segmentectomy is not necessary, a lobectomy is your best selection for lung surgery. In this procedure, one lobe of the lung is removed. There are three lobes in your right lung and two in your left, so this policy does not normally drastically limit lung performance. Plus, removing the whole lobe ensures that all of the cancer is removed. As a result, this policy has a much lower rate of recurring cancer than the segmentectomy. And the surgery itself is only minimally more invasive than the segmentectomy.

Finally, a pneumonectomy consists of removing the whole lung, normally if the cancer has been undetected too long and has spread to more than one lobe. This lung surgery is commonly a "last resort" because of the decrease in lung perfomance which accompanies it. Because it does reduce lung function so much, this form of lung surgery is rarely considered. When necessary, however, it is an option. The human body can function, albeit not as well, with only one lung, and when the cancer has spread to more than one lobe, the other forms of surgery naturally will not be effective. Your physician may suggest non-surgical procedures for such advanced cancer, if available.

Three Forms Of Lung Surgery, And What They Mean

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