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What is Lung Resection
Lung resection is a procedure to remove part or all of a lung. An entire lung may be removed (pneumonectomy), or only part of it may be removed (lobectomy). A lung resection may be done as an open surgery or as a minimally invasive surgery.
A lung resection is most often done to remove a tumor or cancer, but it may be done to treat other conditions. The procedure can relieve symptoms and keep the problem from getting worse.
Tell a health care provider about:
- Any allergies you have.
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
- Any blood disorders you have.
- Any surgeries you have had.
- Any medical conditions you have.
- Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
What are the risks?
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:
- Excessive bleeding.
- Infection.
- Reaction to anesthesia.
- Allergic reaction to medicines.
- Blood clots.
- Injury to a nerve or blood vessel.
- Problems breathing.
- Heart problems.
- Stroke.
What happens before the procedure?
Staying hydrated
Follow instructions from your health care provider about hydration, which may include:
- Up to 2 hours before the procedure – you may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water, clear fruit juice, black coffee, and plain tea.
Eating and drinking restrictions
Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and drinking, which may include:
- 8 hours before the procedure – stop eating heavy meals or foods such as meat, fried foods, or fatty foods.
- 6 hours before the procedure – stop eating light meals or foods, such as toast or cereal.
- 6 hours before the procedure – stop drinking milk or drinks that contain milk.
- 2 hours before the procedure – stop drinking clear liquids.
Medicines
Ask your health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
- Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines unless your health care provider tells you to take them.
- Taking over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
Tests
You may have tests done before the procedure, including:
- Blood and urine tests.
- Imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT, MRI, or PET scans.
- Bronchoscopy. In this procedure, a health care provider uses a flexible tube (bronchoscope) to look at the inside of your airways.
- Pulmonary function tests. These are done to check how well your lungs work.
- Heart testing. This is done to check heart function before the procedure.
- Lymph node sampling. This may be done to see if you have a tumor that has spread.
General instructions
- Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.
- Plan to have a responsible adult care for you for at least 24 hours after you leave the hospital or clinic. This is important.
- Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco for as long as possible before your procedure. These include cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
- Ask your health care provider what steps will be taken to help
prevent infection. These may include:
- Removing hair at the surgery site.
- Washing skin with a germ-killing soap.
- Taking antibiotic medicine.
What happens during the procedure?
- An IV will be inserted into one of your veins. You will be given
one or both of the following:
- A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
- A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
- A breathing tube will be placed in your throat.
- A thin tube (catheter) may be inserted into the part of your body that drains urine from the bladder (urethra). The catheter will drain your urine.
- Your health care provider will make a large incision on your side (open lung surgery) or several small incisions over your chest area (minimally invasive surgery).
- Your health care provider will carefully cut any tissues leading to the area of the lung being treated.
- The lung or part of the lung will then be removed. Lymph nodes near the lung may also be removed for testing.
- Your health care provider will check inside your chest to make sure there is no bleeding in or around the lungs.
- Your health care provider may put tubes into your chest to drain extra fluid and air after surgery.
- Your incisions will be closed. This may be done using stitches (sutures), staples, skin glue, or skin tape (adhesive) strips.
- A bandage (dressing) may be placed over your incisions.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
What happens after the procedure?
- Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until you leave the hospital or clinic.
- Right after surgery, you may:
- Be moved to the intensive care unit (ICU).
- Continue to have a tube to help you breathe or have a urinary catheter.
- Have an IV for fluids and medicines.
- Remain on a respirator, if assistance is needed to help you breathe.
- Start respiratory therapy in the ICU. This will help your other lung to get strong and stay healthy.
- Be given medicine to help with pain and nausea.
- You may have to wear compression stockings. These stockings help to prevent blood clots and reduce swelling in your legs.
- As you continue to recover:
- You will be moved to a regular hospital room. Therapy will continue.
- You may be released to go home or to an extended care facility.
Summary
- A lung resection is a procedure to remove part or all of a lung. It can be done as an open surgery or a minimally invasive surgery.
- A lung resection is most often done to remove a tumor or cancer, but it may be done to treat other conditions.
- After surgery, respiratory therapy will be prescribed to help your lung recover and become stronger.
Lung Resection, Care After
This sheet gives you information about how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After the procedure, it is common to have:
- Pain in your throat and near your incisions.
- Pain when taking deep breaths.
- Nausea.
- Tiredness (fatigue).
Follow these instructions at home:
Medicines
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
- If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
- If you are taking prescription pain medicine, take actions to
prevent or treat constipation. Your health care provider may recommend that
you:
- Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
- Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
- Limit foods that are high in fat and processed sugars, such as fried or sweet foods.
- Take an over-the-counter or prescription medicine for constipation.
Incision care
- Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to
take care of your incisions. Make sure you:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
- Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
- Check your incision area every day for signs of infection. Check
for:
- Redness, swelling, or pain.
- Fluid or blood.
- Pus or a bad smell.
- Warmth.
- Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you may take showers.
Preventing pneumonia
- Do breathing exercises as instructed by your health care provider. Doing this helps prevent lung infection (pneumonia).
- Try to breathe deeply and cough as told by your health care provider. Holding a pillow firmly over your ribs may help with discomfort.
- If you were given an incentive spirometer in the hospital, continue to use it as directed by your health care provider.
- Participate in pulmonary rehabilitation as directed by your health care provider. This is a program that combines education, exercise, and support from a team of specialists. The goal is to help you heal and get back to your normal activities as soon as possible.
Activity
- Rest as told by your health care provider.
- Avoid sitting for a long time without moving. Get up to take short walks every 1–2 hours. This is important to improve blood flow and breathing. Ask for help if you feel weak or unsteady.
- Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
- Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that you are told, until your health care provider says that it is safe.
- Return to a normal diet and activities as told by your health care provider.
General instructions
- Wear compression stockings as told by your health care provider. These stockings help to prevent blood clots and reduce swelling in your legs.
- If you have a chest tube, care for it as instructed by your health care provider. Do not travel by airplane during the 2 weeks after your chest tube is removed, or until your health care provider says that this is safe.
- Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. These can delay healing after surgery. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
- Do not drive until your health care provider approves.
- Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if you:
- Have redness, swelling, or pain around your incision.
- Have fluid or blood coming from your incision.
- Have pus or a bad smell coming from your incision or bandage.
- Have an incision that feels warm to the touch.
- Have a fever or chills.
- Notice that your incision is breaking open.
- Cough up blood or pus, or you develop a cough that produces bad-smelling sputum.
- Have pain or swelling in your legs.
- Have increasing pain that is not controlled with medicine.
- Have trouble managing any of the tubes that have been left in place after surgery.
Get help right away if you:
- Have chest pain or an irregular or rapid heartbeat.
- Feel weak, light-headed, or dizzy.
- Have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
- Have persistent nausea or vomiting.
- Have a rash.
These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
Summary
- After lung resection surgery, it is common to have pain around your incisions, pain when taking deep breaths, nausea, and fatigue.
- Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your incisions.
- Be sure to contact your health care provider if you have any redness or swelling around your incision area or if blood, pus, or other fluid drains from your incision.