Aftercare

Hospital stay is usually 7 to 10 days. Deep breathing is important to help prevent pneumonia, infection, and re-expand the lung. The chest tube remains in place until the lung has fully re-expanded. Pain is managed with medications. The patient recovers fully in 1 to 3 months after the operation.

Review Date: 5/30/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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