Surgery

What is the goal of surgery in the treatment of lung cancer?

The goal of lung cancer surgery is to completely remove the lung tumor. The tumor is removed along with a border, known as a margin, of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. The tumor is said to have clear margins if the pathologist who examines the tumor tissue after the surgery finds no cancer in the margin.

During surgery, nearby lymph nodesA rounded mass of lymphatic tissue surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue in the lung and middle portion of the chest are also removed to check them for cancer and to help determine whether further treatment is necessary.⁴

What are the different types of surgery used in lung cancer?

The type of surgery the thoracic surgeon recommends depends on the size and location of the tumor and on how well the patient’s lungs are working. If a patient’s lungs are healthy, a lobectomy is most commonly the preferred operation.⁵

Following are descriptions of different approaches that may be used:^2,4,5,6,7

Lobectomy

Lobectomy is the removal of one of the five lobesA portion of an organ of the lung. When non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is detected at an early stage, a lobectomy is the most effective type of surgery, even when the lung tumor is very small.

Wedge resection

In a wedge resection, the surgeon removes the tumor and a small rim of normal, healthy tissue surrounding it. A wedge resection is recommended for treating the smallest lung cancers (2 cm or less in diameter) or if the patient has poor lung function and/or other medical conditions that make removing the entire lobe dangerous. A wedge resection may also be performed if the patient has a peripheralAt the outermost part or region within a precise boundary lesion.

Segmentectomy

A segmentectomy removes one of the small segments within the lobes of the lung that contains a cancer. The amount of lung tissue removed is between what is removed in a lobectomy and in a wedge resection. Like wedge resection, it is recommended only for treating lung tumors that are 2 cm or less wide or, as with wedge resections, if the patient has poor lung function and/or other medical conditions that make removing the entire lobe dangerous.

Pneumonectomy

Pneumonectomy is the surgical removal of the entire lung. This type of surgery is usually required if the tumor is very large or is close to the center of the chest.

Sleeve resection

This surgery is used for tumors that involve the large airways. The tumor and a portion of the airway are removed and the ends of the airway are rejoined so remaining lobes can be left in place. A surgeon may perform this type of surgery rather than a pneumonectomy in order to preserve more lung function.

What are the different techniques used to perform lung surgery?

Thoracotomy

This surgery is performed in an operating room with general anesthesiaMedicine that puts the patient in a deep sleep. The surgeon makes an incisionA cut made in the body to perform surgery between the ribs on the side of the chest or on the back in order to examine the lung and remove the tumor, surrounding tissue, and nearby lymph nodes. After the surgery, a patient will have a tube (or tubes) coming out of the chest to drain excess fluid and air from the space around the lung while the lung heals. Once the fluid drainage and air leak subside, the tube(s) will be removed. Generally, the hospital stay after a thoracotomy is 5 to 7 days, followed by a period of recovery at home.^8,9

Thoracoscopy

A thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that uses small incisions and small instruments to examine and perform operations in the inside of the chest. It is also known as video-assisted thoracic surgery, or VATS. This procedure requires a great deal of technical skill and should only be performed by a surgeon who has specific training and experience in it.

VATS to remove lung cancer is done in an operating room under general anesthesia. During the operation, a thin tube with a light and a tiny video camera on the end is placed through a small incision on the side of the chest. The view inside the chest is transmitted onto a television monitor. The surgeon can look around freely inside the chest, watching the image on the TV screen. One or two other small incisions are used for long instruments that are used to do the same operation that would be done using a thoracotomy. If a lobectomy or pneumonectomy is done, one of the incisions will be enlarged to allow the tumor and lung tissue to be removed.^5,9

Since only small incisions are needed in a VATS, there is less pain after the surgery and a more rapid recovery. Chest tubes are required for most VATS procedures, and patients typically remain in the hospital for a few days until the drainage of fluid and air subsides. Research has shown that the cure rate after a VATS is similar to surgery done with a thoracotomy. However, less pain, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stays—four or five days—have been found with VATS.^5,9

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

A newer type of minimally invasive operation known as robotic-assisted surgery is being performed at some large cancer centers in the U.S. In this approach, a surgeon sits at a control panel, inside the operating room, using robotic arms to maneuver the surgical instruments. Robotic surgery requires special training and expertise. Results from robotic-assisted lung cancer operations have been found to be comparable to those from VATS.^9,10,11

What determines the length of the hospital stay after lung cancer surgery?

How long a patient needs to stay in the hospital after surgery will depend on:¹²

• Which type of surgery was done
• The patient's overall health before surgery
• The patient's lung function after surgery
• Post-surgical complications, if any

How can patients manage the effects of lung cancer surgery side effects?

Side effects from lung cancer surgery are common, but just becaus a side effect is common does not mean that a patient will experience it. Before surgery, a patient discuss with their healthcare team what side effects they might expect and lhow to prevent or ease them. A patient should speak with their healthcare team if and when new side effects begin, as treating them early on is often more effective than trying to treat them once they have already become severe. Although some side effects go away quickly, others may last a long time. The side effects and management techniques below are not all-inclusive. A patient's healthcare team will have a more extensive set of side effects and management recommendations.

Common side effects and management techniques for lung cancer surgery may include:

• Pain: Depending on the type of surgery a patient undergoes and how big the incision, the patient's chest and back may be painful for several weeks or longer after surgery. Pain medicines that will help can be prescribed.¹² In addition, there are other other things that patients can do once at home to help lessen the pain; see Living Well With Lung Cancer.
• Fatigue: A patient should expect to feel more tired than usual after surgery. How long it will take to get back to normal is different for each patient. Rest is very important to recovery.^13,14
• Fluid, blood, or air in the chest: One or more chest tubes are typically placed during surgery to keep the patient's chest cavity free of fluid, blood, and air that collect after lung surgery. The tubes will be connected to a machine that gently suctions the fluid from the chest. These tubes are left in place until the fluid and air have stopped draining. Air leaks typically stop 1-4 days post-surgery.^12,15
• Shortness of breath: A patient should expect to feel short of breath after lung surgery. The extent of this depends on how much of the lung was removed and how much pain the patient is experiencing. After a portion of a lung is removed, the remaining lung tissue can expand over time and make it easier to breathe. A respiratory therapist can help the patient with breathing treatments after surgery. These treatments may include deep breathing exercises, the use of a spirometerAn apparatus for measuring the movement of air into and out of the lungs to encourage deep breathing and expand the lungs, and medicines to help open the airways.  In addition, pulmonary rehabilitationBehavior and lifestyle changes to help patients with chronic lung disease decrease breathing problems, return to daily activities, and improve quality of life offers techniques to improve lung function after lung surgery. For example, pursed-lip breathing decreases how often a patient takes breaths and keeps airways open longer. This allows more air to flow in and out of the lungs so that a patient can be more physically active. If respiratory treatments are not prescribed, the patient should ask his or her doctor for a consultation.^12,16,17,18

• Loss of muscle: Patients benefit from exercise post-surgery. Physical therapy may also be prescribed to help build strength and endurance to overcome post-surgical muscle atrophy.¹⁹

What are the risks of lung cancer surgery?

Lung cancer surgery carries risks like any surgery, including:⁵

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clot
• Allergic reaction to anesthesia medications
• Death

Other risks that specifically may occur after lung surgery include:⁹

• Failure of the lung to expand
• Injury to the lungs, heart, or blood vessels
• Persistent pain
• Pneumothorax (air or air collection in the space that separates the lung from the chest)
• Pleural effusion (fluid collection in the space around the lung in the chest)
• Pneumonia (bacterial infection in one of the remaining lobes of the lungs)