Pneumonectomy Surgery
A pneumonectomy is a type of surgery to remove one of your lungs because of cancer, trauma, or some other condition.
During a pneumonectomy, the surgeon makes a cut (incision) on the side of your body. The surgeon cuts some muscle and spreads the ribs apart. He or she surgically removes the affected lung. The sac that contained the lung (pleural space) fills up with air. Eventually, fluid takes the place of this air.
A pneumonectomy may be used to treat some cases of:
- Lung cancer.
- Malignant mesothelioma.
- Traumatic injury.
- Disseminated thymomas.
- Bronchial obstruction.
- Congenital lung disease.
- Lung infections such as tuberculosis.
