The goal of surgery for lung cancer is to remove all of the cancer and a border of normal tissue (margin) around it. The type of surgery depends on the location and size of the tumor. Types include:
The doctor removes the affected part of the bronchus, Opens dialog and reconnects the healthy ends.
Pneumonectomy.
The doctor removes the whole affected lung.
During surgery, the doctor may also remove nearby lymph nodes to find out if the cancer has spread.
Lung surgery may be done through one cut (incision) in the chest (thoracotomy). Or it may be done through several small cuts (video-assisted thoracic surgery, Opens dialog, or VATS). Your doctor can help you understand which type of surgery is best for you.
Lung surgery requires you to stay in the hospital after the procedure. How long you stay will depend on:
Your remaining lung function.
Your overall health before surgery.
Which type of surgery was done.
Pain
Pain is a common concern after this surgery. Depending on the type of surgery you have, your chest area may be painful for several weeks to months after surgery. Your doctor will prescribe pain medicines you can use for pain after the surgery. You can also talk to your doctor about things you can do at home to help ease pain.
Chest tubes
One or more chest tubes are used after surgery to drain your chest cavity of fluid and blood, which are present after lung surgery. The chest tubes also help your lungs refill with air. Chest tubes are placed in your chest cavity and extend out through your chest wall and skin through small cuts between your ribs on the same side as the surgery. The tubes are connected to a machine that creates a gentle suction, which helps your chest fluid to drain. The fluid is collected in a container that measures the amount of fluid draining from your chest. The chest tubes will be removed when the drainage from your chest has stopped and no air is leaking from your chest incision, which is usually after a few days.
Respiratory treatments
A respiratory therapist will help you with breathing treatments to improve your lung function after surgery. Treatments usually involve deep breathing and the use of a spirometer, Opens dialog. Medicines may also be used to help open your airway and help you breathe more easily.
A thoracotomy may be done to:
Confirm the diagnosis of lung cancer.
Remove a lung cancer.
Remove scar tissue or fix an air leak in your lung.
Do a wedge resection of your lung cancer. This removes the cancer and the lung tissue surrounding the cancer.
Remove the segment (lobe) of the lung that contains the cancer.
Information about Lung Surgery for Lung Cancer
Surgery is more effective in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer when the lung cancer can be completely removed and the cancer has not spread to lymph nodes or outside the chest cavity.
Surgery is sometimes used in limited-stage small cell lung cancer, when there is a single tumor and the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes. But small cell lung cancers are not often diagnosed at this early stage.
Studies done in medical centers that do many minimally invasive lung surgeries (VATS) have shown that this type of surgery works as well as open-chest surgery (thoracotomy) for cancer treatment. People who had VATS also had less pain, a shorter hospital stay, and a faster recovery.footnote 1
Lung surgery risks include:
Bleeding.
Infection.
An air leak in your lung that does not close.
Damage to your heart, lungs, blood vessels, or nerves in your chest.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2019). Non-small cell lung cancer. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, version 1.2020. Accessed December 19, 2019.
Clinical Review Board All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Clinical Review Board All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2019). Non-small cell lung cancer. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, version 1.2020. Accessed December 19, 2019.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
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