What is the process of removing a lung called?

Appeared in: UP CHO - 2018

Explanation

Pneumonectomy is the specific medical term for the surgical removal of an entire lung.
This is the most extensive type of lung resection surgery.
It is performed for conditions that affect the entire lung, such as centrally located lung cancers or extensive lung damage from trauma or infection.
The procedure involves dividing the major pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins, and the main bronchus to the affected lung.

Option A: A lobotomy is a type of brain surgery involving the prefrontal lobe and has no relation to the lungs.
Option B: A segmentectomy involves removing a segment of a lung lobe, which is a smaller portion than the entire lung.
Option C: A wedge resection is a non-anatomical resection that removes a small, wedge-shaped piece of lung tissue, not the entire lung.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Surgical Terminology for Lung Resection as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A pneumonectomy is a major surgery with significant impact on a patient's respiratory function, as it removes 50% of their lung capacity. Post-operative nursing care is critical and focuses on managing pain, promoting effective breathing in the remaining lung, and monitoring for complications like respiratory failure and cardiac issues.
Indications for pneumonectomy are becoming rarer as less invasive, lung-sparing techniques (like segmentectomy and SBRT) improve for treating early-stage cancers.
What if the patient had a small, peripheral tumor in the upper lobe? In that case, a wedge resection or segmentectomy would be the preferred surgical approach to preserve as much healthy lung tissue as possible, leading to better postoperative quality of life and respiratory reserve.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key action in the question stem, which is 'removing a lung'. Note that it specifies the entire lung, not a part of it.
Analyze the provided options by defining each term based on your medical terminology knowledge.
Eliminate 'Lobotomy' first, as it is a well-known term for a type of brain surgery, not lung surgery.
Differentiate between the remaining options: 'Wedge' and 'Segmentectomy' both refer to the removal of parts of a lung, making them incorrect for this question.
This leaves 'Pneumonectomy'. The prefix 'pneumo-' relates to the lungs, and '-ectomy' means surgical removal. This matches the question's requirement for the removal of a whole lung.
Confirm your choice. Pneumonectomy is the correct medical term for the complete removal of a lung.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 2 p. 49-51

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 664-666

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