Question

In order to treat lung cancer, the lower lobe of the left lung is removed from an otherwise healthy 67-year-old man. What effect would removal of this portion of the lung have on this patient’s O2 diffusion rate? Explain why

Answer 1

Your lungs  are made up of five sections called lobes . You have three in your right lung  and two in your left. A lobectomy removes one of these lobes . After the surgery, your healthy tissue makes up for the missing section, so your lungs should work as well or better than they did before.

Respiratory deficits are common following curative intent lung cancer surgery and may reduce the patient's ability to be physically active. We evaluated the influence of surgery on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and physical performance after lung resection. Here identified thatlung resection has a significant short- and long-term impact on pulmonary function and oxygenation, but not on respiratory muscle strength. Future research should focus on mechanisms negatively influencing post-operative pulmonary function other than impaired respiratory muscle strength.