R upper lobectomy

Question 1

What is a lobectomy?

Answer 1

A proceure to take out part of the lung (in this case the upper R lobe) because it has a cancerous tumour in it. A malignant tumour - cells growing uncontrollably. Incision is made in between the ribs, which are then spread and held open. Standard incision is a posterolateral thoracotomy.

Question 2

Complications?

Answer 2

Infection
Bleeding
MI 
Stroke
Lobar torsion
Escape of air into the pleura
Pneumothorax
contusion (brusing pooling of blood) in adjacent lung-V/Q mismatch -> hypoxaemia (deficiency of )2 in arterial blood)

Question 3

Physio post op?

Answer 3

Autogenic drainage or ACBT to clear sputum is preferred to coughing in order to protect op site
Positioing; switch from op side to back in elevated sitting so there is no mediastinum shifting
Spirometry to increase lung function