Lung Lobectomy
Lung lobectomy is a type of surgery done to remove one or more lobes of your lung. Your lungs are two hollow organs that are covered by pleural sacs (two thin layers of tissue). Each lung is divided into lobes (sections) by deep grooves. Normally, your right lung has three lobes while your left lung has two lobes. Lung lobectomy is usually done to treat lung tumors, infections (including abscesses) or lung damage.
 During a lobectomy, your surgeon will cut and remove only one lobe of your lung. If two lobes of the right lung are removed, the surgery is called bilobectomy. The surgeon will leave one or two lobes of the lung in place to allow for normal lung function.
During a lobectomy, your surgeon may rejoin the airways he had cut and reattach them to the remaining lobes. This is called a sleeve lobectomy. This is often done if a tumor is in the center part of your lungs. The surgeon may also reattach the cut arteries along with the cut airways. This is called a double sleeve technique. Other parts in the area may also be removed aside from the lung lobe. These include lymph nodes (glands) between the lobes, chest muscles, tissue lining of your heart, or diaphragm. You and your surgeon will decide which lobectomy technique is best for you.
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