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• Your doctor may do the following:
  • Physical exam
  • Blood and urine tests
  • Chest x-ray
  • Pulmonary function test
  • Ultrasound
  • CT scan
  • MRI scan
• Talk to your doctor about your medicines. You may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure, like:
  • Aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Blood thinners
• Follow a special diet if instructed.
• Eat a light meal the night before. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
• Take antibiotics or other medicines as directed.
• You may be asked to shower the night before the procedure with a special soap.
• Arrange to have someone drive you to and from the procedure. Arrange for help at home as you recover.

General anesthesia will be given. You will be asleep. A tube will be placed in your windpipe to help you breathe.

A lobectomy may be done in one of two ways:

• Traditional thoracotomy—A large incision will be made. The ribs will be spread. The doctor will locate and remove the lung lobe.
• Video-assisted thoracic procedure—Several small incisions will be made between your ribs. A tiny camera and special tools will be inserted through the incisions. Your doctor will be able to see the inside of your chest on a nearby monitor. The lung lobe will be located and removed.

If you are having a lobectomy to remove cancer, the doctor will also remove lymph glands in your chest. The glands will be tested for any sign of cancer.

After completing the procedure, your doctor will place tubes in your chest. They will help drain the chest cavity. The incision(s) will be closed with stitches or staples.

You will be taken to a recovery room. You will be given fluids and medicines through an IV.

The procedure takes about 1-4 hours.

You may feel some pain as the anesthesia wears off, but pain can be managed with medicines.

• Thoracotomy—about 1-2 weeks
• Video-assisted thoracic procedure—2-5 days