After lung surgery, my ribs hurt. Types of treatment for lung cancer. Survival rate of people with this disease and different treatment methods

Planned or emergency surgery on the lungs is performed for serious pathologies of this most important respiratory organ, when conservative treatment is impossible or ineffective. Like any surgical intervention, manipulation is carried out only in cases of necessity, when the patient’s condition requires it.

The lungs are one of the main organs of the respiratory system. They are a reservoir of elastic tissue that contains respiratory vesicles (alveoli) that facilitate the absorption of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide from the body. The pulmonary rhythm and the work of this organ as a whole are regulated by the respiratory centers in the brain and the chemoreceptors of the blood vessels.

Surgery is often required for the following diseases:

pneumonia and other severe inflammatory processes;
tumors of a benign (cysts, hemangiomas, etc.) and malignant (lung cancer) nature;
diseases caused by the activity of pathogenic microorganisms (tuberculosis, echinococcosis);
lung transplant (for cystic fibrosis, COPD, etc.);
hemothorax;
pneumothorax (accumulation of air in the pleural region of the lungs) in some forms;
the presence of foreign bodies due to trauma or injury;
adhesions in the respiratory organs;
pulmonary infarction;
other diseases.

However, lung surgery is most often performed for cancer, benign cysts, and tuberculosis. Depending on the extent of the affected area of the organ, several types of such manipulation are possible.

Depending on the anatomical features and complexity of the ongoing pathological processes, doctors may decide on the type of surgical intervention.

Thus, a distinction is made between pneumonectomy, lobectomy and segmentectomy of an organ fragment.

Pulmonectomy - removal of the lung. It is a type of abdominal surgery for the complete removal of one part of a paired organ. A lobectomy is considered to be the removal of a lobe of the lung that is affected by infection or cancer. Segmentectomy is performed to eliminate a segment of the lobe of one lung and, along with lobectomy, is one of the most common types of surgery on this organ.

Pulmonectomy, or pneumonectomy, is performed in exceptional cases for extensive cancer, tuberculosis and purulent lesions or large tumor formations. The operation to remove a lung is performed under general anesthesia exclusively through the abdominal route. In order to remove such a large organ, surgeons open the chest and in some cases even remove one or more ribs.

Typically, lung excision is performed using an anterolateral or lateral incision. When removing a lung for cancer or in other cases, it is extremely important to leave the root of the organ, which includes the vessels and bronchi. It is necessary to maintain the length of the resulting stump. If the branch is too long, there is a possibility of developing inflammatory and purulent processes. After removing the lung, the wound is stitched tightly with silk, and a special drainage is inserted into the cavity.

Lobectomy involves excision of one or more (usually 2) lobes of one or both lungs. This type of operation is one of the most common. It is performed under general anesthesia using the abdominal method, as well as the latest minimally invasive methods (for example, thoracoscopy). In the cavity version of the surgical intervention, the availability of access depends on the location of the lobe or fragment being removed.

Thus, a lung tumor of a benign or malignant nature, located in the lower lobe, is excised using a posterolateral approach. Elimination of the upper and middle lobes or segments is performed by an anterolateral incision and opening of the chest. Removal of a lobe of the lung or part of it is performed in patients with cysts, tuberculosis and chronic abscess of the organ.

Segmentectomy (removal of part of the lung) is performed if a tumor of a limited nature is suspected, with small localized tuberculosis foci, small cysts and lesions of an organ segment. The excised area is separated from the root to the peripheral area after blocking and ligating all arteries, veins and bronchus. Afterwards, the segment to be removed is removed from the cavity, the tissue is sutured, and 1 or 2 drains are installed.

The period before surgery should be accompanied by intensive preparation for it. So, if the general condition of the body allows, aerobic exercise and breathing exercises will be useful. Often such procedures make it possible to ease the period after surgery and speed up the evacuation of purulent or other contents from the pulmonary cavity.

Smokers should give up the bad habit or minimize the number of cigarettes they consume per day. By the way, it is this malicious habit that is the main cause of lung diseases, including 90% of cases of cancer of this organ.

The preparatory period is excluded only in case of emergency intervention, since any delay in the operation can threaten the patient’s life and lead to complications and even death.

From a medical point of view, preparation for surgery consists of examining the body and identifying the localization of the pathological process in the operated area.

Among the studies required before surgery are:

general urine and blood tests;
blood test for biochemistry and coagulogram;
X-rays of light;
ultrasonography.

In addition, in case of infectious and inflammatory processes, therapy with antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis drugs is prescribed before surgical procedures.

Rehabilitation period

Lung operations of any complexity are a traumatic process that requires a certain period of recovery. In many ways, the successful course of the period after surgery depends both on the physical state of health of the patient and the severity of his illness, as well as on the qualifications and quality of the specialist’s work.

In the postoperative period, there is always a risk of developing complications in the form of infectious and inflammatory processes, respiratory dysfunction, failure of sutures, the formation of non-healing fistulas, etc.

To minimize the negative consequences after surgery, treatment with painkillers and antibiotics is prescribed. Oxygen therapy and a special diet are used. After some time, a course of therapeutic exercises and breathing exercises (physical therapy) is recommended to restore the functions of the respiratory system and speed up the recovery process.

During abdominal surgery on the lung (pneumectomy, etc.), the patient’s ability to work is fully restored in about a year. Moreover, in more than half of the cases, disability is registered. Often, when one or more lobes are removed, external defects of the chest may be visible in the form of hollowness on the side of the removed organ.

Life expectancy depends on the characteristics of the disease and the person’s lifestyle after surgery. Patients with benign tumors after relatively simple interventions for resection of organ fragments have the same life expectancy as ordinary people. Complications after severe forms of sepsis, gangrene and lung cancer, relapses and an unhealthy lifestyle simply have a negative impact on the overall life expectancy after surgery.

Surgery is often required for the following diseases:

pneumonia and other severe inflammatory processes;
tumors of a benign (cysts, hemangiomas, etc.) and malignant (lung cancer) nature;
diseases caused by the activity of pathogenic microorganisms (tuberculosis, echinococcosis);
lung transplant (for cystic fibrosis, COPD, etc.);
hemothorax;
pneumothorax (accumulation of air in the pleural region of the lungs) in some forms;
the presence of foreign bodies due to trauma or injury;
adhesions in the respiratory organs;
pulmonary infarction;
other diseases.

However, lung surgery is most often performed for cancer, benign cysts, and tuberculosis. Depending on the extent of the affected area of the organ, several types of such manipulation are possible.

Depending on the anatomical features and complexity of the ongoing pathological processes, doctors may decide on the type of surgical intervention.

Thus, a distinction is made between pneumonectomy, lobectomy and segmentectomy of an organ fragment.

The preparatory period is excluded only in case of emergency intervention, since any delay in the operation can threaten the patient’s life and lead to complications and even death.

From a medical point of view, preparation for surgery consists of examining the body and identifying the localization of the pathological process in the operated area.

Among the studies required before surgery are:

general urine and blood tests;
blood test for biochemistry and coagulogram;
X-rays of light;
ultrasonography.

In addition, in case of infectious and inflammatory processes, therapy with antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis drugs is prescribed before surgical procedures.

Rehabilitation period

Lung surgery is performed for severe illnesses when all types of conservative treatment are no longer effective.

The lungs are a vital organ. Their main purpose is to carry out gas exchange between the blood and the environment. The functioning of the organ is controlled by the respiratory center of the medulla oblongata. Rehabilitation after lung surgery is at least 2 weeks.

Indications for surgery

Lung operations are necessary for the following diseases:

The intervention has a number of complications and risks, so it is carried out in case of emergency.

Lung surgery is most often performed for tuberculosis or lung cancer.

Tuberculosis infection occurs through prolonged contact with a carrier of the infection. Susceptibility to the disease increases when the functions of the immune system are impaired. Tumors develop mainly in smokers, people working in hazardous industries, and residents of megacities.

Types of operations

Lung removal can be complete or partial. The type of intervention is determined by doctors based on the nature of the disease and the results of a preliminary examination of the patient.

Pulmonectomy - surgery to remove a lung for cancer - removal of the entire lung, is done when cancer is advanced or multiple metastases appear in the organ. Resection – removal of part of an organ – can be of various types:

bilobectomy – removal of 2 lobes,
lobectomy – removal of the 1st lobe,
segmentectomy – removal of a segment,
marginal resection – removal of a site on the periphery.

It is possible to operate using either a cavity method or a minimally invasive method using endoscopic techniques.. Surgical interventions include lung transplantation and pleural puncture.

Traditional intervention

With the traditional method, a thoracotomy is performed - opening the chest. The operation is abdominal and is performed under general anesthesia. The patient's tolerance to anesthesia is first checked to avoid the death of the patient from anaphylactic shock. Sometimes it may be necessary to remove several ribs to facilitate access to the lungs.

Before removing an organ or part of it, ligatures are applied to large vessels and the bronchus. Then the surgeon separates the root of the lung and treats the wound with an antiseptic. Lymph nodes and fatty tissues are removed along with the lung. A bronchial stump is formed. In order to check the tightness of the sutures, air is pumped into the lungs under high pressure. The size of the stump is of great importance - if it is too long, there is a risk of suppuration and the development of inflammatory processes. In order to prevent fluid accumulation in the lungs after lung surgery, 1-2 drains are left in the pleural cavity.

Minimally invasive intervention

Operations using modern techniques are less time-consuming and less traumatic. Laser surgery, radiosurgery, and destruction of organ parts using low temperatures are used. To access the affected areas, a small incision is made into which a video camera is inserted. With its help, the surgeon monitors his actions. The operation is performed without connecting the lungs to an artificial ventilation system, the patient breathes on his own. The postoperative period with minimally invasive intervention is shorter compared to traditional methods.

There are also operations that help change the pathological condition of the lungs without removing parts of it - pneumolysis and pneumotomy.

Pneumolysis - excision of adhesions that interfere with the straightening of the organ. The formation of adhesions occurs in tumors, tuberculosis, kidney diseases, suppurative processes, fibrinous pleurisy. Most often, intervention is performed for cavernous tuberculosis, in cases where the size of the cavity does not exceed 3 cm.

Pneumotomy is the opening of purulent foci or abscesses. The procedure is indicated for tuberculosis, tumors, purulent pleurisy. The operation does not cure the disease, but helps alleviate the patient's condition. It is performed in cases where radical intervention is not possible.

Preparing for surgery

The operation is preceded by a preparatory period, which is excluded only if emergency surgery is necessary. The condition of the remaining healthy areas and the general well-being of the patient are determined. The following studies are used for this:

general and biochemical blood test,
coagulogram,
general urine analysis,
x-ray,
bronchoscopy,
CT scan,
Ultrasound examination of the chest organs.

If a person has concomitant pathologies of the heart, endocrine glands and gastrointestinal tract, additional diagnostic measures are carried out.

An obstacle to the operation is the high probability of the patient developing respiratory failure. To assess external respiratory function, the following are used:

spirometry,
pneumotachometry,
bronchospirography,
oxyhemography.

The patient must follow a diet, give up alcohol and smoking.

Special exercises help remove pathological contents from the lungs, restore and straighten the organ after surgery. The patient needs to perform daily torso turns, light stretching, bending, combined with raising his arms. Pressing on certain areas of the body causes a cough reflex and sputum discharge.

A medical worker helps bedridden patients do gymnastics. Physical exercise strengthens the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and reduces the patient's anxiety before surgery.

You should stop taking medications that reduce blood clotting at least a week before the intervention..

Before lung surgery for lung cancer (removal), the patient takes a course of cytostatic drugs. For tuberculosis, anti-tuberculosis drugs are indicated in the preoperative period; for infectious diseases, antibiotics are indicated.

Contraindications for surgery

Operations are not performed for the following contraindications:

tumor growth into the esophagus, cardiac sac, aorta, superior vena cava;
multiple metastases to the opposite lung, kidneys, liver, lymph nodes and other organs;
anemia;
decreased functional activity of the bone marrow;
spasms in the chest, spine, upper limbs;
acute coronary insufficiency;
myocardial infarction suffered less than 6 months ago;
hypertension;
kidney tuberculosis;
amyloidosis;
laryngeal or phrenic nerve palsy;
sclerosis of the pulmonary arteries;
cachexia.

With caution, organ removal is carried out in older people with excess weight and cardiovascular diseases. There are also relative contraindications to intervention, in which surgeons in each specific case compare the expected benefit for the patient and the possible consequences.

Postoperative period

Rehabilitation after removal of a lung for cancer, tuberculosis and other pathologies includes physical therapy and a set of breathing exercises, which must be started a few hours after the operation. While the patient is in the hospital, physiotherapeutic procedures are carried out. Oxygen therapy is used.

During the first time after surgery, people feel pain, so they are prescribed analgesics. To prevent possible complications, antibiotics are used, and discharge from the wound is periodically analyzed.

Diet after lung surgery helps avoid weight gain, which patients tend to do. Overeating, consumption of fatty, fried, spicy foods are contraindicated. It is recommended to eat 5-6 times a day in small portions.

It is advisable to avoid hypothermia, contact with ARVI patients, stress, and excessive physical effort.. It is better to give up bad habits forever. Physical education should not be tiring; it is best to just walk more in the fresh air.

Life expectancy after surgery

The prognosis for life after surgery depends on the type of disease, its severity, the presence of additional treatment and the general condition of the patient. Much depends on the extent to which the patient follows the doctor’s recommendations, whether he follows the diet and the prescribed work and rest schedule.

Sometimes patients manage to lead a full life with one lung after cancer. But, unfortunately, half of people become disabled after organ resection. To prevent complications and relapses of the disease, all people who have undergone surgery should undergo a preventive examination annually.

Complications

After the operation, complications may develop that can lead to the death of the patient: internal bleeding, cardiac or respiratory failure, suppuration, sepsis, suture dehiscence, gangrene.

During the first year, people suffer from hypoxia - the remaining tissues cannot fully supply the body with oxygen..

Cough after lung surgery is one of the common symptoms. Most often it develops as a result of trauma to the tracheal mucosa during artificial ventilation, but sometimes it is a sign of the development of bronchitis or postoperative pneumonia.

News

Positive events

The facade of the department was repaired with modern materials that are resistant to the external environment and have an excellent aesthetic appearance, which indirectly influenced the strengthening of labor discipline and increased labor productivity.

Positive ultrasound event

The ultrasound diagnostic room of the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution No. 2 of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan purchased a biopsy attachment for the intracavitary sensor of an expert-class Toshiba aplio 500 ultrasound scanner for conducting multifocal transrectal biopsy of the prostate.

Open Day

On March 2, 2019, an open day dedicated to women's health was held at the State Budgetary Institution "Oncological Dispensary No. 2" of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, dedicated to International Women's Day on March 8.

Open Day

On February 2, 2019, an “Open Day dedicated to men’s and women’s health” was held at the State Budgetary Institution “Oncological Dispensary No. 2” of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Employee training

Employees of the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution "Oncological Dispensary No. 2" were trained under the program "Training of officials, specialists and the population in the field of civil defense and emergency situations."

Regional meeting

Employees of the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution "Oncological Dispensary No. 2" took an active part in the regional meeting "Results of the work of the regional Disaster Medicine Service in 2017 and tasks for 2018."

Chief oncologist of the Southern Federal District Oleg Kit assessed the quality of the oncological service in the city of Sochi

On April 23, 2018, the chief freelance oncologist of the Southern Federal District, the head of the Rostov Oncology Institute, Oleg Kit, held a working meeting with the chief oncologist of the Krasnodar Territory, Roman Murashko, and visited the oncology clinic in Sochi.

X Congress of Oncologists and Radiologists of the CIS and Eurasian Countries

All-Russian Labor Safety Week

The dispensary employees took an active part in the All-Russian Occupational Safety and Health Week 2018.

Open Day

Regular open days were held in February and March 2018, namely:

Open Day

On January 27, 2018, from 9-00 to 12-00, an open day was held at the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution OD No. 2, dedicated to the early diagnosis of breast and skin cancer.

Open Day

On October 07, 2017, from 09:00 to 12:00, an open day was held at the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution OD No. 2, dedicated to the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Open Day

On September 23, 2017, from 9-00 to 12-00, an open day dedicated to the early diagnosis of head and neck tumors was held at the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution No. 2.

Scientific and practical conference

The first annual scientific and practical conference on the early diagnosis of cancer of visually visible localizations was held in the city of Sochi for primary care physicians with the aim of increasing cancer alertness and increasing the proportion of cancer detected in the early stages.

GBUZ OD No. 2 holding a week of men's and women's health

As part of the campaign for men's and women's health, oncologists conducted consultations.

Open Day

On November 19, 2016, from 09-00 to 12-00, an Open Day was held dedicated to the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Open Day

On 10/01/2016 from 9-00 to 12-00, an open day dedicated to the early diagnosis of breast cancer was held at the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution OD No. 2.

Open Day

On June 25, 2016, an open day was held in the outpatient department of the State Budgetary Institution "Oncological Dispensary No. 2" of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Open Day

05/21/2016 An open day was held at the outpatient department of the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution No. 2 dedicated to the fight against melanoma, the most malignant skin tumor.

Memo to the patient after lung surgery

It is necessary to stop smoking tobacco. Smoking is very harmful for anyone, but especially for those who have had lung surgery. It is not easy to get rid of nicotine addiction. And if it is impossible to give up this harmful habit through willpower, then you should seek help. Perhaps this will be treatment with a psychotherapist, acupuncture, coding. But the goal must be achieved
In addition, you should avoid staying in a dusty and polluted atmosphere, inhaling toxic and potent substances. It is useful to install air ionizers in your home.
Large doses of alcohol depress breathing and reduce the human body's defenses.
The amount of alcohol should be reduced to 30 ml of pure ethanol for men, to 10 ml per day for women and people with low body weight. If a patient has alcoholic damage to the liver, heart, or nervous system, it is necessary to categorically refuse to drink alcoholic beverages.

Nutrition after lung surgery

To restore the body after lung surgery, nutrition must be complete and easily digestible. Food should contain vitamins, vegetables, fruits and juices.
A mandatory dietary requirement is limiting table salt. Sodium chloride intake should not exceed 6 g per day.
A patient after lung surgery should maintain a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2. Body mass index can be calculated using the formula:

BMI = Body weight / height in meters 2

You cannot increase body weight, and patients with overweight and obesity must necessarily bring their weight back to normal. It is very important!!! Excess body weight significantly increases the load on the lungs and heart, and therefore increases shortness of breath.
For patients who have undergone lung surgery, exercise has special meaning. They will allow you to develop the compensatory (reserve) capabilities of the remaining lung and cardiovascular system. The body will quickly get used to working in new conditions and the person will return to active life sooner.
Active physical exercises should not be performed by patients with shortness of breath at rest, severe hearing and vision loss, motor impairment, as well as during periods of exacerbation or the appearance of acute infectious diseases (influenza, colds, exacerbation of bronchitis, pneumonia).
Physical training should be regular and long-term. The positive effects of exercise disappear within 3 weeks after stopping. Thus, the introduction of physical activity into the lifelong management program for patients after lung surgery is mandatory.
Physical exercises can be performed by all patients after lung surgery, without age or gender restrictions, against the background of selected medication treatment.

Physical activity should be stopped:

Severe fatigue
Increased shortness of breath
Pain in the calf muscles
A sharp decrease and increase in blood pressure
Feeling of heartbeat
The appearance of chest pain
Severe dizziness, noise and pain in the head.

In order to normalize the tone of the smooth muscles of the bronchi, breathing exercises are performed with the pronunciation of sounds.

After a moderate inhalation and a slow exhalation, they compress the chest in the middle and lower sections, pronouncing the sounds “pf, rrr, brroh, drohh, drahh, bruhh.” When exhaling, you should stretch out the “pp” sound especially long. The exit with each sound exercise should be repeated 4-5 times, gradually increasing the number of repetitions up to 7-10 times as training progresses. The duration of exhalation according to the stopwatch should initially be 4-5 seconds, gradually reaching 12-25 seconds.
The same exercises can be performed using a towel. A towel is placed around the chest. While exhaling slowly, use the ends of the towel to compress the chest and pronounce the sounds listed above (6-10 times).
From the starting position, half-sitting, after a moderate inhalation and a slow exhalation, alternately pull the legs towards the abdominal and chest wall. Each exhalation is followed by a shallow inhalation.

After 1-2 months of regular exercises aimed at strengthening the respiratory muscles. When performing physical exercises, weights are introduced.
An important component of exercise is relaxation.
Relaxation begins with the muscles of the legs, then successively moves to the muscles of the arms, chest, and neck. Exercises to relax the muscles of the arms, legs, chest, and neck are performed in a sitting and standing position. Subsequently, the patient's attention is fixed on the fact that the muscles. Those not participating in this exercise should be relaxed. Each therapeutic exercise procedure ends with general muscle relaxation.

Medicines

It is very important to monitor the complete coughing up of sputum. For this purpose, you can take medicinal herbs (chest, bogulnik, knotweed, etc.) and expectorant medications under the supervision of your doctor. Some patients suffering from bronchitis with impaired bronchial obstruction require bronchial dilatation drugs. This treatment should also be supervised by a medical professional.
It is very important to effectively treat existing diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, and circulatory failure.
Almost all patients after lung surgery must take medications that improve the functioning of the heart under new conditions. However, advice on the selection of medications and monitoring their effects should be provided by the attending physician.

How to reduce shortness of breath?

Try to stop shouting. Smoking continues the irreversible aging of the remaining lung and also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Watch for good expectoration of mucus.
Watch your body weight.
Reduce salt intake to a minimum.
Get regular moderate exercise for at least 20 minutes three times a week. Dosed walking, swimming, and cycling are suitable.
Do not exceed the alcohol limit per day (30 ml of pure ethanol for men, up to 10 ml per day for women and people with low body weight).
Leave time to breathe every day.

When should you consult a doctor without delay?

If you have a fever and cough up purulent sputum.
If there is an admixture of blood in the sputum.
If shortness of breath has increased excessively and does not decrease in the usual ways that previously helped.
If there is a sharp decrease or increase in blood pressure.
If chest pain appears or becomes more frequent.

Lung surgery requires preparation from the patient and compliance with recovery measures after its completion. They resort to removing the lung in severe cases of cancer. Oncology develops unnoticed and can already appear in a malignant state. Often people do not go to the doctor for minor ailments that indicate the progression of the disease.

Types of surgery

Lung surgery is performed only after a complete diagnosis of the patient’s body. Doctors are required to make sure that the procedure they perform is safe for a person who has a tumor. Surgical treatment should take place immediately, before the cancer spreads further throughout the body.

Lung surgery is of the following types:

Lobectomy - removal of the tumor part of the organ.
A pneumonectomy involves the complete excision of one of the lungs.
Wedge resection is a targeted operation of chest tissue.

For patients, lung surgery seems like a death sentence. After all, a person cannot imagine that his chest will be empty. However, surgeons try to reassure patients; there is nothing scary about it. Concerns about difficulty breathing are unfounded.

Preliminary preparation for the procedure

An operation to remove a lung requires preparation, the essence of which boils down to diagnosing the condition of the remaining healthy part of the organ. After all, you need to be sure that after the procedure the person will be able to breathe as before. An incorrect decision can lead to disability or death. General well-being is also assessed; not every patient can withstand anesthesia.

The doctor will need to collect tests:

urine;
results of blood parameters studies;
Ultrasound examination of the respiratory organ.

Additional research may be required if the patient has diseases of the heart, digestive or endocrine system. Drugs that thin the blood are prohibited. At least 7 days must pass before the operation. The patient goes on a therapeutic diet; bad habits will need to be eliminated before visiting the clinic and after for a long period of recovery of the body.

The essence of chest surgery

Surgical removal takes place for a long time under anesthesia of at least 5 hours. Using the photographs, the surgeon finds a place to make an incision with a scalpel. The tissue of the chest and the pleura of the lung are dissected. The adhesions are cut off and the organ is released for removal.

The surgeon uses clamps to stop bleeding. The drugs used in anesthesia are checked in advance so as not to cause anaphylactic shock. Patients may have an acute allergic reaction to the active substance.

After removing the entire lung, the artery is fixed with a clamp, then nodes are applied. The sutures are made with absorbable sutures that do not require removal. Inflammation is prevented by saline solution pumped into the chest: into the cavity that is located between the pleura and the lung. The procedure ends with a forced increase in pressure in the tracts of the respiratory system.

Recovery period

After lung surgery, precautions must be taken. The entire period takes place under the supervision of the surgeon who performed the procedure. After a few days, mobility-restoring exercises begin.

Breathing movements are carried out while lying down, sitting and while walking. The goal is simple - to shorten the treatment period by restoring the pectoral muscles weakened by anesthesia. Home therapy is not painless; constricted tissues are gradually released.

In case of severe pain, it is allowed to use painkillers. Any swelling, purulent complications or lack of inhaled air should be eliminated together with the attending physician. Discomfort when moving the chest persists for up to two months, which is a normal course of the recovery period.

Additional assistance during rehabilitation

The patient spends several days in bed after the operation. Removing a lung has unpleasant consequences, but simple remedies help avoid the development of inflammation:

The dropper supplies the body with anti-inflammatory substances, vitamins, and the required amount of fluid for the normal functioning of internal organs and maintaining metabolic processes at the proper level.
You will need to install tubes in the incision area, secured with a bandage between the ribs. The surgeon may leave them in place for the entire first week. You will have to put up with the inconvenience for the sake of your future health.

Can the diagnosis be wrong?

In very rare cases, a diagnostic error occurs with the conclusion “lung tumor”. Surgery in such situations may not be the only option. However, doctors still resort to removing the lung for reasons of preserving human health.

In case of severe complications, it is recommended to remove the affected tissue. The decision about surgery is made based on clinical symptoms and photographs. The pathological part is removed to stop the growth of tumor cells. There are cases of miraculous healing, but it is unreasonable to hope for such an outcome. Surgeons are used to being realistic, because we are talking about saving the patient’s life.