What is a lobectomy?

A lobectomy is the surgical removal of one of the five lobes — or main sections — of the lungs. It is the most common type of operation used to treat lung cancer, and it may be performed on patients with various stages of the disease.

But is a lobectomy considered major surgery? How long does it take to fully recover? And will you feel short of breath after having one?

Read on for the answers to these questions and more.

What is a lung lobe?

Think of your airway as an upside-down tree. The trachea, or windpipe, is the trunk. The first two branches leading off of it go to the left and right lungs. Branches further down lead to the upper, middle, and lower lobes on the right, and the upper and lower lobes on the left.

We have five lung lobes in all: two on the left side and three on the right. These lobes can be further subdivided into 19 smaller units called “segments.” A segmentectomy is the surgical removal of a segment rather than an entire lobe.  

How long does it take to fully recover from a lobectomy?

That varies widely. It depends on many factors, including:

• Which surgical approach is being used
• Your overall health status
• How well the rest of your lung lobes are functioning

On average, you can expect to spend two to three nights in the hospital afterward and have several chest X-rays taken to monitor your progress.

A chest tube will be inserted at the time of the operation. It will be left in place to allow the lung to re-expand and drain any air or fluid that accumulates. The tube is usually removed within a day or two of surgery when the volume of fluid draining is minimal and there is no longer any air bubbling from it.

In some circumstances, you may be ready to leave the hospital before that happens. In those situations, you’d likely return to the clinic within a few days to have the tube taken out.

What will my life be like after a lobectomy? Will I always feel short of breath? 

No. A lobectomy would not be performed if it would leave you unable to breathe adequately or feeling permanently short of breath.

That being said, you might feel slightly short of breath for the first few weeks after a lobectomy while your body adjusts to its new anatomy. You may also experience some discomfort when taking deep breaths, but that should improve over time.

You will be assessed for your lung function before a decision is made to perform lung surgery. We calculate your eligibility based on pre-operative lung function and what percentage of lung tissue would be removed.

Is a lobectomy considered major surgery?

Yes. Any lung surgery is considered major surgery. 

Is a lobectomy considered a high-risk procedure? 

No. We might describe certain tumors or patients as high-risk based on their anatomy or overall health status. But it’s a very common operation. Even in complex situations, risks can be reduced by going to an experienced center of excellence like MD Anderson, where thoracic surgeons do it every day.  

What are the risks of a lobectomy? 

The greatest risks associated with lung surgery are:

• Prolonged air leaks: when the lung continues to leak air for more than a few days after surgery, requiring ongoing management with a chest tube
• Pneumonia: an infection of the lungs, which can be treated with antibiotics
• Atrial fibrillation (A-fib): an abnormal heart rhythm seen in roughly 8-10% of lobectomy patients, which is treated with medications

Fortunately, most of these conditions are temporary. Air leaks, in particular, are usually self-limiting. Pneumonia can often be prevented, too, with deliberate coughing, deep breathing, and a lot of walking after surgery.

What’s the difference between a pneumonectomy and a lobectomy? 

A pneumonectomy is the removal of an entire lung. A lobectomy is just the removal of part of it (a single lobe).

What’s the most important thing to know about lobectomies?

Lobectomies are the most commonly performed operation on the chest. So, it’s important to have yours done well. That’s why you should go to a place like MD Anderson, where surgeons perform these procedures all the time. 

Mara Antonoff, M.D., is a thoracic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of lung cancer.

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-791-1457.