Three Forms Of Lung Surgery And What They Mean

Three Forms Of Lung Surgery, And What They Mean
By James Woodley

There are three major forms of lung surgery, each with their own terminology. Understanding 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 easily 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 examine each of the three types of lung surgery in detail; when each one might be necessary and the different risks associated with each one.

The first procedure 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 procedure 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 chance 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 health risks or consequences.

The lobectomy is the second method, and the most common of the three. In cases where a pneumonectomy is not required and segmentectomy is not necessary, a lobectomy is your best option 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 procedure does not usually drastically limit lung performance. Plus, removing the entire lobe ensures that all of the cancer is removed. As a result, this procedure 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 entire lung, usually if the cancer has been undetected too long and has spread to more than one lobe. This lung surgery is generally 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 simply will not be effective. Your doctor may recommend non-surgical procedures for such advanced cancer, if available.

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