Your Lungs are Fascinating

Your lungs are tireless workers, constantly exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide 24/7. This vital process is orchestrated by the intricate respiratory system, ensuring your survival with each breath.

Taking 12-15 breaths per minute translates to over 17,000 breaths daily, or a staggering 6 million breaths annually. These two organs are remarkably large, with a combined surface area similar to a tennis court and a network of airways stretching 1,500 miles, roughly the distance from Chicago to Las Vegas. Air travels through the windpipe, branching out into bronchi and then bronchioles, finally reaching tiny air sacs called alveoli where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in the blood. Divided into lobes, your left lung (slightly smaller with a heart-shaped notch) and right lung (with three lobes) work tirelessly to sustain life. Each lobe receives air from its own branch of the bronchial tree, but their function remains the same – gas exchange. This remarkable redundancy allows individuals to survive with just one lung.

What is a Lobectomy?

A lobectomy is a surgical procedure where a doctor removes a lobe of your lung. Your lungs have two main sections, the left lung with two lobes and the right lung with three lobes. So, a lobectomy targets a specific section of your lung to address a health issue. The procedure itself is typically performed under general anesthesia and involves carefully dissecting and removing the targeted lobe, ensuring the remaining lung tissue is securely sealed. While lobectomy is a major surgery, it allows for the removal of diseased tissue while maximizing lung function and minimizing the impact on overall lung capacity.

What To Expect

In preparation for your lobectomy, your surgeon will conduct a thorough evaluation. This includes a detailed medical history and physical examination, along with blood and breathing tests (pulmonary function tests) to assess your overall health and lung function. Depending on your age and physical condition, additional tests like an electrocardiogram or stress test might be recommended to check your heart health.

Quitting smoking as soon as possible before surgery is highly encouraged. This significantly reduces the risk of complications during and after the procedure. Additionally, you will receive specific instructions regarding fasting (not eating or drinking) prior to arriving at the hospital. During the lobectomy itself, you will be completely asleep under general anesthesia. After the surgery, a chest tube will be inserted to drain excess fluid and air from your chest cavity, facilitating healing.

Reasons for a Lobectomy

There are several reasons why a doctor might recommend a lobectomy. The most common reasons include:

• Lung cancer: If the cancer is confined to a single lobe and hasn't spread to other parts of the lung or body, a lobectomy can be a curative treatment.
• Severe infection: In some cases of severe lung infections that don't respond to antibiotics, a lobectomy might be necessary to remove the infected tissue.
• Emphysema or other lung diseases: For advanced lung diseases where a portion of the lung is severely damaged and causing breathing problems, a lobectomy can help improve function

The Two Different Methods

A lobectomy can be performed in a few different ways, depending on your specific situation. Here are the two main approaches:

Open surgery (Thoracotomy)

This is the traditional approach where our doctor makes an incision on your chest wall to access the lung. They carefully remove the affected lobe and then close the incision.

Minimally invasive surgery (Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or VATS)

This is a newer approach that uses smaller incisions and a tiny camera to visualize the inside of your chest. Our doctor operates using instruments inserted through these incisions. VATS lobectomy typically has a faster recovery time.

Recovery

After lobectomy surgery, you'll spend some time recovering in the hospital. It's normal to experience some pain and discomfort, but you'll be given medication to manage this.  Recovery typically takes several weeks, and a physical therapist will help you with breathing exercises to regain lung function.