Where is the incision for a lobectomy?

In most cases, during a lobectomy the cut (incision) is made at the level of the affected lobe. The cut is most often made on the front of the chest under the nipple and wraps around the back under the shoulder blade. The surgeon gets access to the chest cavity through the exposed ribs to remove the lobe.

What is a left lobectomy?

Your lungs are made up of five sections called lobes. You have three in your right lung and two in your left. A lobectomy removes one of these lobes. After the surgery, your healthy tissue makes up for the missing section, so your lungs should work as well or better than they did before.

How is lobectomy performed?

Lobectomy has been traditionally performed during thoracotomy surgery. During thoracotomy surgery, an incision is made on the side of the chest between the ribs. The ribs are then spread apart so the surgeon can see into the chest cavity and remove the tumor or affected tissue.

What happens after a lobectomy?

Some patients have shortness of breath that goes away a week after surgery; others might have shortness of breath that goes away a few weeks after surgery. And there isn’t really significant internal pain after the procedure.

What are the types of lobectomy?

There are two ways to perform a lobectomy:

• Thoracotomy: An incision (cut) will be made between two ribs, from the front of the chest around to the back.
• Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS): Small incisions are made, in which your surgeon will insert a thorascope (tube with a camera attached).

What are the complications of lobectomy?

What are the risks of a lobectomy?

• Reactions to anesthesia.
• Lung infection (pneumonia)
• Collapsed lung.
• Bleeding.
• Pleural effusion (fluid that collects between the lung and chest wall)
• Heart complications, such as irregular heartbeat or a heart attack.

Is a lobectomy painful?

Having a lobe removed is a very painful process that requires one to be very patient about the time it takes to recover.

How long does it take to heal from a lobectomy?

There are two basic parts of recovery from a lobectomy – recovery in the hospital right after surgery and recovery at home. A full recovery may take weeks or even months. During that time, you will have to follow the instructions your healthcare team give you.

How long does nerve pain last after lobectomy?

Two months after your surgery you would usually expect the pain to be getting better but how long someone has pain following a lobectomy varies. Unfortunately it’s not possible to know how long it will affect you. In some cases the pain can last for quite a few months but it is rare for it to be long term.

Is lobectomy surgery painful?

Is a lobectomy a painful surgery?