Lung Replacement Surgery

The California Center for Cardiothoracic Surgery has successfully performed multitudes of lung replacement surgery and operations for conditions that require diagnosis and/or treatment of a variety of lung conditions including lung nodules (spots) that are seen in a chest x-ray or C.T. scan and need to be determined whether they are benign or malignant.  The surgeons at California Center for Cardiothoracic Surgery will discuss different options for biopsy of the ‘nodule’ including minimally invasive Thoracoscopic (using the video assisted instrumentation through small incisions) before any lung replacement surgery. Should the ‘nodule’ turn out be malignant surgeons then proceed to remove part of the lung (Lobectomy) or, rarely, the whole lung (Pneumonectomy) to give the patients the best chance of a cure under the least risky conditions.  Surgeons at California Center for Cardiothoracic Surgery have a total of over 35 years of experience and have performed lung replacement surgery and operated on close to 1000 patients with excellent results.

Other conditions requiring the skills of thoracic surgeons in a lung replacement surgery include persistent infection inside the chest cavity after a ‘pleurisy’ which could be a complication of pneumonia.  This condition which is called ‘Empyema’ and usually ‘traps the lung’ which can cause shortness of breath along with significant pain.  Surgeons need to get into the chest, clear the infection, and remove the scar tissue that is trapping the lung.