Treatments

Pneumonectomy

Pneumonectomy is a type of thoracic surgery in which an entire lung is removed. It is a more extensive procedure than a lobectomy, which only involves the removal of one lobe of the lung. Pneumonectomy is typically performed in cases where severe disease, such as lung cancer or other major lung conditions, cannot be effectively treated by removing a smaller portion of the lung.

Indications for Pneumonectomy

Pneumonectomy is performed when less invasive procedures, like lobectomy, are insufficient to remove the diseased portion of the lung. The primary reasons for this surgery include:

• Lung Cancer: Advanced-stage lung cancer that involves a large area or multiple lobes of the lung. If the tumor is localized to one lung but too extensive for a lobectomy, a pneumonectomy may be necessary.
• Severe Lung Infection: In rare cases, conditions like tuberculosis, fungal infections, or lung abscesses may require the removal of an entire lung if the infection is widespread and damaging.
• Trauma: Major injury or trauma to the lung that causes irreparable damage.
• Congenital Lung Disease: In some rare cases, severe congenital abnormalities may necessitate removing the lung.
• Mesothelioma: A type of cancer associated with asbestos exposure that affects the lining of the lungs and may require a pneumonectomy if confined to one lung.

Types of Pneumonectomy

There are two main types of pneumonectomy, depending on the structures that are removed along with the lung:

• Standard Pneumonectomy: Only the diseased lung is removed.
• Extrapleural Pneumonectomy: This is a more radical procedure where the lung, along with part of the diaphragm, pericardium (heart lining), and portions of the pleura (lung lining), are removed. This is usually performed for conditions like mesothelioma.