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Lobectomy

A lobectomy may be performed when an abnormality has been detected in a specific part of the lung. This is a surgical procedure performed to remove one of the lobes of the lungs. Most often, a lobectomy is performed during a surgical procedure called a thoracotomy, when the doctor performs an incision in the chest.

Conditions of the chest and lungs for which a lobectomy may be performed include, but are not limited to, the following:

• tuberculosis (TB)
• lung abscess
• emphysema
• benign tumor
• lung cancer (asbestos exposure, smoking, etc)
• fungal infections

Other lung surgery procedures that may be performed by thoracotomy include:

• Pneumonectomy – involves the removal of an entire lung when an abnormality/disease is detected throughout the entire lung
• Wedge Resection – involves the removal of a small section of a lobe when an abnormality/disease affects only a small area of lung tissue
• Segmental Resection – involves the removal of a segment or subdivision of a lobe
• Exploratory Thoracotomy – involves the opening of the chest wall for direct visualization of the lungs and other chest structures when there is evidence of an abnormality/disease that has not been verified by other diagnostic methods

Like any other surgery, lobectomy carries a risk of serious complications, which are based on your general health and the approach your surgeon uses to perform the surgery. In general, complications of lobectomy can include:

• bronchopleural fistula
• empyema
• hemorrhage
• infection
• tension pneumothorax

When a lung abnormality or condition has been identified that requires surgical removal, a lobectomy may be the best choice. A lobe may be removed to avoid any spread of the disease-causing pathogen to the other lobes, as with tuberculosis or certain cancerous lung tumors.

During a lobectomy surgery, the incision is made at the level of the affected lobe and is typically made on the front of the chest under the nipple line, extending around the back under the shoulder blade. The surgeon enters the chest cavity through the exposed ribs to remove the lobe.

A minimally invasive procedure called video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is used in certain circumstances, to perform a lobectomy. The surgeon inserts specialized surgical instruments into the chest cavity through 3-4 small incisions. Other specialized instruments are inserted and used to perform the procedure through the remaining incisions.

One of the instruments, called a thoracoscope, is equipped with a tiny camera, which transmits the image to a TV-like monitor, so the surgeon will be able to view the internal organs on the monitor. The type of procedure performed will be determined by the surgeon, based on the patient's medical condition and other factors.

If you have been diagnosed with a lung condition or conditions of the chest and lungs (tuberculosis (TB), lung abscess, emphysema, benign tumor, lung cancer, fungal infections) your doctor may recommend surgery. Ask your doctor about the minimally invasive da Vinci surgery to learn more about its advantages! The da Vinci system enables your cardio-thoracic surgeon to perform lobectomy with excellent precision, enhanced vision, dexterity and control.

The da Vinci surgery requires just a few small incisions. The system features a magnified 3D high-definition vision system and special instruments that bend and rotate far better than the human wrist. da Vinci lobectomy offers the following potential benefits:

• fewer days with chest tube (used to drain excess lung fluid)
• improved mental quality of life soon after surgery
• less blood loss
• less pain
• lower rate of complications
• precise removal of cancerous tissue
• shorter hospital stay
• small incisions for minimal scarring