Pneumonectomy is the surgical procedure involving excision of the lung. It is one the most important thoracic surgical procedure that involves removal of a partial or entire lobe of the lung. The operation reduces the respiratory capacity of the patients. Pneumonectomy is often carried out to remove the cancerous tumor present in the lung cancer.
Though uncommon, pneumonectomy is also carried out in the cases of benign lung conditions such as complications of pulmonary tuberculosis, cystic bronchiectasis, suppurative lung disease, fibrosing mediastinitis and invasive opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. These benign diseases sometimes lead to a diminished quality of life, elevated patient morbidity and life-threatening conditions such as recurrent pneumonias, empyema, septicemia and chronic or massive hemoptysis. Pneumonectomy for benign diseases is a very…
