LABECTOMY

 A lobectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove one of the lobes of the lungs. The procedure may be performed when an abnormality has been detected in a specific part of the lung.
 When only the affected lobe of the lung is removed, the remaining healthy tissue is spared to maintain adequate lung function. A lobectomy is most often performed during a surgical procedure called a thoracotomy (surgical incision of the chest).  Other lung surgery procedures that may be performed by thoracotomy include:

- Pneumonectomy: Removal of an entire lung when an abnormality or disease is detected throughout the entire lung.
 -Wedge resection: Removal of a small section of a lobe when an abnormality or disease involves only a small area of lung tissue.
-Segmental resection: Removal of a segment, or subdivision of a lobe.
-Exploratory thoracotomy: Opening of the chest wall for direct visualization of the lungs and other chest structures when there is evidence of an abnormality or disease that has not been verified by other.

    Diagnostic methods
 There are different kinds of thoracotomies, depending on the location of surgical entry and how much lung is removed.
 Generally, during a lobectomy the incision is made at the level of the affected lobe.
 The incision is typically made on the front of the chest under the nipple line and extends around the back under the shoulder blade; The surgeon enters the chest cavity through the exposed ribs to remove the lobe.
 In certain circumstances, a minimally invasive procedure called video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is used to perform a lobectomy. Specialized surgical instruments are inserted into the chest cavity through three or four small incisions.  One of the instruments, a thoracoscope, has a tiny camera and transmits the image to a TV-like monitor. The surgeon is able to view the internal organs on the monitor.  Through the remaining incisions, other specialized instruments are inserted and used to perform the procedure.
 The type of procedure performed will be determined by the surgeon, based on the patient's medical condition and other factors. Other related procedures that may be used to diagnose problems of the lungs and respiratory tract include:

●Lung biopsy,
●pleural biopsy,
●bronchoscopy,
● thoracentesis, and
● mediastinoscopy.

 *Please see these procedures for additional information.