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Lung surgery - Risks

Alternative Names

Thoracotomy; Lung tissue removal; Pneumonectomy; Lobectomy; Lung biopsy; Thoracoscopy; Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; VATS

Risks:

Risks for any anesthesia are:

Allergic reactions to medicines
Breathing problems

Risks for any surgery are:

Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
Infection, including in the incision, lungs, bladder or kidney
Bleeding
Heart attack or stroke during surgery

Risks of this surgery are:

Injury to your lungs or blood vessels
Need for a chest tube after surgery

Pulmonary lobectomy - series

Reviewed last on: 2/17/2009
Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Smythe WR, Reznik SI, Putnam JB Jr. Lung (including pulmonary embolism and thoracic outlet syndrome). In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 59.

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