Pneumonectomy (ONCOSURGERY )cost in India

Know More About Procedure & Surgery

What is Pneumonectomy?

A Pneumonectomy is a type of surgery to remove one of your lungs because of cancer, trauma, or some other condition. You have two lungs: a right lung and a left lung. These lungs connect to your mouth through a series of tubes. Through these tubes, the lungs bring oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide from the body. Oxygen is necessary for all functions of your body. Carbon dioxide is a waste product that the body needs to get rid of. Most people can get by with only one lung instead of two, if needed. Usually, one lung can provide enough oxygen and remove enough carbon dioxide, unless the other lung is damaged.

During a pneumonectomy, the surgeon makes a cut (incision) on the side of your body. The surgeon cuts some muscle and spreads the ribs apart. He or she surgically removes the affected lung. The sac that contained the lung (pleural space) fills up with air. Eventually, fluid takes the place of this air. This procedure uses a special video camera called a thoracoscope. It is a type of minimally invasive surgery. That means it uses smaller incisions than the traditional open surgery done on the lung. In cancer treatment, most pneumonectomy experts recommend VATS only for people with early-stage tumors that are near the outside of the lung. This complex procedure requires a surgeon with a great deal of technical skill and experience.

Sometimes a pneumonectomy is also needed for other lung diseases. Some of these include:

• Traumatic lung injury
• Pulmonary tuberculosis
• Fungal infections of the lung
• Bronchiectasis
• Congenital lung disease
• Bronchial blockage with a destroyed lung
• Pulmonary metastases (cancer that has spread to the lungs from another site in the body)

Risks

Many people who have a pneumonectomy do very well. But it is a fairly high-risk surgery. Some possible complications are:

• Respiratory failure
• Blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
• Pneumonia
• Shock
• Complications from anesthesia
• Too much bleeding
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Reduced blood flow to the heart

Your recovery will probably take weeks or even months. If the surgeon spread your ribs to get to the lung, the area near the incision will hurt for some time after surgery. Your overall activity may be limited for 1 to 2 months. If you have emphysema or chronic bronchitis (common diseases among smokers), you might become more short of breath with certain activities. Your age, any other health problems, and other factors will help determine your risk for complications. Before your surgery, ask your healthcare provider about your specific risks.

Preparation

Ask your healthcare provider about what you need to do to get ready for your pneumonectomy. In general:

• Tell your provider about all the medicines you take. This includes over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin and all prescription medicines. It also includes herbs, vitamins, and other supplements. You may need to stop taking some medicines before the surgery, such as blood thinners.
• If you smoke, you need to quit before your surgery. Ask your healthcare provider for resources to help you.
• Discuss with your doctor, if you have any allergies, including latex.
• Tell your doctor, if you’ve ever had a reaction to local or general anesthesia.
• Daily exercise is an important part of getting ready for surgery. Ask your healthcare provider what kind is best for you.
• You might need to do breathing exercises with a device called a spirometer.
• Don’t eat or drink after midnight the night before your surgery.
• Any hair on or around the surgery site may be removed with clippers before the procedure.

Diagnosis

• Chest X-ray, to see the heart and lungs
• Chest CT scan, to get more detailed pictures of the lungs
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan, to look for cancer tissue
• Electrocardiogram (ECG), to look at your heart rhythm
• Pulmonary function tests, to see how well your lungs are working
• Ventilation-perfusion scan, to figure out which areas of the lung contribute most to breathing
• Blood tests, to check your overall health

During the Procedure

The following is a general description of the most common approach. This procedure may differ if your doctor is using minimally invasive surgery. In general:

• You will lie on your side on an operating table with your arm above your head.
• You will probably get antibiotics to help prevent infection.
• You will get anesthesia before the surgery starts. It will put you into a deep sleep so you don’t feel any pain during the procedure.
• The surgery will take several hours.
• The surgeon makes a cut several inches long between 2 ribs. The cut will go from under your arm to around your back, on the side of the lung that is being removed.
• The surgeon separates 2 ribs. In some cases, the surgeon might remove a small part of the rib.
• The surgeon deflates the affected lung and removes it.
• The surgeon may remove some nearby lymph nodes. These may help show how advanced a cancer might be.
• Your surgeon will close the ribs, the muscles, and skin. A dressing will be applied over the incision.
• Most of the time, a chest tube is left in the pleural space from where the lung was removed. This is removed when your condition improves.

After the Procedure

Ask your healthcare provider about what to expect. In general:

• When you wake up, you might feel confused at first. You might wake up a couple of hours after the surgery, or a little later.
• Your vital signs will be carefully watched. These include your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. You will have several types of monitors attached to help with monitoring your condition.
• You may get oxygen through small tubes placed in your nose. This is usually short-term.
• You will feel some soreness. But you shouldn’t feel severe pain. If you need it, pain medicine is available.
• You may do breathing therapy to help remove fluids that collect in your lungs during surgery. You will probably need to do this several times a day.
• You may wear special stockings (compression stockings) on your legs to help prevent blood clots.
• You will need to stay in the hospital for several days.

After you leave the hospital:

• You will have your stitches or staples removed in a follow-up appointment. Be sure to keep all of your follow-up appointments.
• You may tire easily after the surgery. But you will slowly start to recover your strength. It may be several weeks to a month before you fully recover.
• You need to be up and walking several times a day.
• Ask your healthcare provider when it will be safe for you to drive.
• Avoid lifting anything heavy for several weeks.
• Follow all the instructions your healthcare provider gives you for medicine, exercise, diet, and wound care.
• Call your doctor right away if you have any signs of infection, fever, swelling, or pain that is getting worse. A small amount of drainage from your incision is normal.