Mesothelioma Treatment - Surgery - Pneumonectomy

A pneumonectomy is the removal of a lung in order to eradicate a tumor or tumors that may be associated with mesothelioma and other lung diseases. The human species does not need both lungs to survive, but the removal of a lung is a serious procedure and is only performed if cancer doctors believe it will offer the best chance for survival or will greatly reduce the debilitating symptoms of mesothelioma.

Not every mesothelioma patient is a candidate for a pneumonectomy. Doctors will not recommend this procedure for cases where the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body. Surgical candidates must also be in relatively good health for this procedure to be considered. Heart function must be strong and the other lung must be in good working condition as well.

A pneumonectomy is performed under general anesthesia. The doctor will make a long incision (about seven to nine inches) and remove part of the rib to be able to properly view the lungs. The affected lung will be carefully collapsed and the doctors will clamp, cut, and tie off any attached blood vessels, along with the air tube that flows to the cancerous lung. The lung is removed through the incision and the cut tubes and vessels are thoroughly inspected to ensure that nothing is leaking. Also removed with the lung are the pleural linings of the chest, heart, and diaphragm.

Patients will need to breathe with the assistance of a respirator for the first few days after surgery, and drainage tubes will be used to remove fluid buildup. Usually a two-week hospital stay is required and patients often need to travel to a major hospital to find a surgeon who is an expert in this procedure. Full recovery may take as long as two to three months. In addition, the surgery does carry a risk of heart attack, pneumonia, bleeding, and serious infection. Studies show that approximately six to seven of every 100 patients who opt for pneumonectomy surgery die during or shortly after the procedure. If the surgery is successful, it can greatly improve the patient's quality of life while adding several months to their life span.

Sources:

About Cancer, http://cancer.about.com/od/lungcancersurgery/p/pneumonectomy.htm
Aetna InteliHealth, http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/23692.html

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