How Long Can One Live After Having Their Right or Left Lung Removed?

Update Date: 2024-05-27 Source: Network

Illness is an inevitable part of life, and factors such as the severity of the illness, the patient's physical condition, the chosen method of treatment, and post-treatment care can all affect the patient's recovery. However, if a patient undergoes a resection of the right or left lung and the other lung functions well, it will not affect their lifespan, and many patients can live for decades after surgery.

1. How long can a patient live after resection of the right or left lung? The survival time after lung resection is closely related to the cause and severity of the illness. If the resection is due to trauma and the other lung functions well, the patient can live a long life without affecting their lifespan. If the resection is due to chronic diseases such as tuberculosis, the impact on lifespan is also relatively small, and patients can usually survive for several years to decades. However, if the resection is due to lung cancer, the survival time depends on the timing of diagnosis. If the cancer is detected early, there is a possibility of cure. However, if detected late, the survival time is usually less than 5 years.

2. Precautions after resection of the right or left lung:

After lung surgery, patients should avoid crowded places as their resistance is weakened and they are susceptible to viruses. It is best to rest in bed initially, keep warm, adjust clothing according to the weather, maintain a happy mood, avoid excessive anxiety, and keep the respiratory tract unobstructed.
After lung surgery, patients should closely monitor their vital signs, ensure the patency of drainage tubes and urinary catheters, and immediately report any blockage to the doctor. During the anesthetic recovery period, patients should not eat and should receive companionship and encouragement from family members to maintain respiratory tract patency and oxygen inhalation.
Patients should quit smoking after lung surgery and consciously perform deep breathing and coughing exercises to facilitate the recovery of lung expansion after surgery and prevent complications such as atelectasis.
Respiratory training should be performed after lung surgery, including chest-type deep breathing exercises in a sitting position and abdominal-type deep breathing exercises in a supine position. These exercises should be performed 2-3 times daily, each lasting about 15 minutes. Patients should slowly and fully inhale, pause for 1-2 seconds after inhalation to maximize alveolar filling and lung expansion, and then slowly exhale. Additionally, patients should be trained to use the bedpan for bowel movements before surgery.
If patients regularly take anticoagulants or other medications such as danshen, aspirin, or warfarin, or beta-blockers, they should inform their doctors promptly to discuss discontinuing or adjusting the dosage before surgery.