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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 to the chest, and ribs may be removed or spread apart to allow the doctor adequate working space and to view the lung better. The main artery, veins, and air tubes are clamped and cut and the lobe is removed. A drainage tube is then inserted in the chest and the patient is then closed up. The drainage tubes drains any fluids that may build up in the chest.
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