Lung resection is a type of lung cancer surgery in which a surgeon removes the diseased or damaged part of the lung. The main aim of this surgery is to completely remove the affected area while preserving as much healthy lung tissue as possible. By doing so, doctors can treat the disease effectively and allow the remaining lung to continue functioning normally.

Lung resection is most performed for lung cancer, but it may also be recommended for certain non-cancerous lung conditions.

Meaning of Lung Resection in Simple Terms

In simple words, lung resection means cutting out the unhealthy part of the lung. Instead of removing the entire lung, surgeons remove only the portion affected by cancer, infection, or damage. This approach helps patients breathe better after surgery and recover faster, while still ensuring that the disease is completely treated.

How Much Lung Can Be Safely Removed?

Many people worry about breathing after lung surgery, but the human body can function well even after part of the lung is removed. How much lung can be safely removed depends on several factors, including:

Lung capacity is measured through breathing tests.
Overall health and physical fitness.
Presence of lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung fibrosis.

Before surgery, doctors perform detailed lung function tests and scans to ensure that the remaining lung tissue will be sufficient for normal daily activities. This careful assessment helps make lung resection surgery safe and effective.

Conditions Treated with Lung Resection

Lung resection surgery may be recommended for a variety of conditions, including:
Lung cancer, especially when detected at an early or operable stage.
Benign lung tumours that cause symptoms or have the potential to grow
Chronic lung infections, such as tuberculosis-related damage.

Severely damaged or non-functioning lung tissue that affects breathing or increases infection risk.

Lung Resection: Types, Recovery, Risks & Cost