Lobectomy
Encyclopedia
Lobectomy means surgical excision of a lobe. This may refer to a lobe of the lung
, a lobe of the thyroid
(hemithyroidectomy), or a lobe of the brain
(as in anterior temporal lobectomy
).
A lobectomy of the lung is performed in early stage non-small cell lung cancer
patients. It is not performed on patients that have lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Tumor size, type, and location are major factors as to whether a lobectomy is performed.
Such a lobectomy is performed normally during a thoracotomy
. An incision is made in the lateral aspect of the chest, and ribs may be removed or spread apart to allow the surgeon access to the lung . The main arteries, veins, and air tubes (bronchi) are clamped, severed and ligated and the lobe is removed. A drainage tube is then inserted in the chest and the surgical wound is closed. The drainage tube drains any fluids that may build up in the chest and maintains the negative pressure necessary for inflation of the lung.
Lung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
, a lobe of the thyroid
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
(hemithyroidectomy), or a lobe of the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
(as in anterior temporal lobectomy
Anterior temporal lobectomy
Anterior temporal lobectomy is the complete removal of the anterior portion of the temporal lobe of the brain. It is a treatment option in temporal lobe epilepsy for those in whom anticonvulsant medications do not control epileptic seizures....
).
A lobectomy of the lung is performed in early stage non-small cell lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
patients. It is not performed on patients that have lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Tumor size, type, and location are major factors as to whether a lobectomy is performed.
Such a lobectomy is performed normally during a thoracotomy
Thoracotomy
Thoracotomy is an incision into the pleural space of the chest. It is performed by a surgeon, and, rarely, by emergency physicians, to gain access to the thoracic organs, most commonly the heart, the lungs, the esophagus or thoracic aorta, or for access to the anterior spine such as is necessary...
. An incision is made in the lateral aspect of the chest, and ribs may be removed or spread apart to allow the surgeon access to the lung . The main arteries, veins, and air tubes (bronchi) are clamped, severed and ligated and the lobe is removed. A drainage tube is then inserted in the chest and the surgical wound is closed. The drainage tube drains any fluids that may build up in the chest and maintains the negative pressure necessary for inflation of the lung.