Occupational lung disease surgery

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]

Overview

The mainstay of treatment for occupational lung disease is medical therapy. Surgery is usually reserved for patients with progressive massive fibrosis or lung cancer.

Indications

Surgery is not the first-line treatment option for patients with occupational lung disease. Surgery is usually reserved for patients with either:^[1]
- Progressive massive fibrosis
- Lung cancer
- Inflammatory lung disease

Surgery

Pneumonectomy

Pneumonectomy is removal of the lung or part of the lung, and is reserved for progressive massive fibrosis or resectable lung cancer.^[1]
Parts of the diaphragm, pericardium and pleura may also be removed, such as in the case of mesothelioma.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Conlan AA, Kopec SE (1999). “Indications for pneumonectomy. Pneumonectomy for benign disease”. Chest Surg. Clin. N. Am. 9 (2): 311–26. PMID 10365265.

[pmid10365265-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Conlan AA, Kopec SE (1999). “Indications for pneumonectomy. Pneumonectomy for benign disease”. Chest Surg. Clin. N. Am. 9 (2): 311–26. PMID 10365265.

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