Lobectomy

A lobectomy is a surgical procedure in which one lobe of the lung is removed. It is most commonly performed to treat lung cancer, but may also be done for conditions like severe infection, tuberculosis, or benign tumors. The lungs have five lobes—three on the right and two on the left—and removing one lobe can help eliminate diseased or damaged tissue while allowing the remaining lung to function. Lobectomies can be performed through traditional open surgery (thoracotomy) or minimally invasive techniques like video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).