Pneumonectomy Complications and Prognosis
Because a pneumonectomy is a major medical procedure, pneumonectomy complications are not uncommon. Your doctor will discuss these with you before your surgery. Some potential complications may include:
- The need for a respirator for a prolonged period after surgery
- Infections, such as pneumonia
- Bleeding
- Bronchopleural fistula – a connection between the bronchus that was cut and the space between the pleura
- Heart problems, such as a heart attack or abnormal heart rhythms
- Stroke
- Blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or traveling to your lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- Empyema – pus in the space between the membranes (pleura) lining the lungs
- Problems related to anesthesia
- Kidney problems or kidney failure
- Postpneumonectomy syndrome – symptoms caused by organs in the chest filling the space that is left vacant from the removed lung
- Persistent pain in your incision or where your ribs were cut
Pneumonectomy Prognosis
The prognosis following a pneumonectomy depends on many factors. Some of these include which lung is removed (the prognosis is better for left pneumonectomy than right pneumonectomy), the stage of the cancer, gender (women tend to do better than men), the type of lung cancer (prognosis is best for individuals with bronchioloalveolar cancer (BAC)), and how healthy you are in general prior to surgery. Recurrence of cancer in the lung is not common after a pneumonectomy, and the cancer may recur in distant regions of the body.Sources:
American Cancer Society. Detailed Guide: Lung Cancer – Non-Small Cell. Surgery. Updated 12/16/10. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/lungcancer-non-smallcell/detailedguide/non-small-cell-lung-cancer-treating-surgery
Erhunmwunsee, L. and M. Onaitis. Smoking cessation and the success of lung cancer surgery. Current Oncology Reports. 2009. 11(4):269-74.
