Lobectomy: What to Know

Written by Matt McMillen, Kendall K. Morgan
Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on March 10, 2025
13 min read

If you have a lung problem, your doctor may suggest a lobectomy. It’s a surgery to remove a lobe (portion) of your lung. Your lungs are made up of five sections or lobes — three in your right and two in the left. A lobectomy takes one or more of these lobes out. 

After the surgery, your healthy lung tissue stretches out (expands) to make up for the missing lobe. And your lungs may work just as well as before, depending on your reason for surgery.

If your surgeon removes two lobes of your lung, it's called a bilobectomy. They may also remove lymph nodes, small round glands that help you fight infection. You’ll get a few small cuts (incisions) on your chest or one long one, depending on your surgery.

Your doctor may suggest a lobectomy for different reasons. Lung cancer is a common one.

“However, it could be cancer from a different site, a lung infection, or another disease that makes the lung non-functional, such as a serious emphysema,” says Dean Schraufnagel, MD, an assistant professor of thoracic surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL.

A lobectomy can help with other lung problems, too. If your lung tissue gets damaged, the lobe is removed so your lungs can expand. This makes it easier to breathe. This surgery can also treat your:

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Tumors that are benign (not cancerous)
  • Lung problems you were born with
  • Bleeding due to damage in your lungs
  • Lung damage caused by chemicals or radiation
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Lung abscess

Lobectomy for lung cancer

It's a common treatment if you have early-stage lung cancer (tumor in one lobe). A lobectomy might be your best chance for a cure. And sometimes, it’s the only treatment you’ll need. But if your cancer has spread to other body parts, you may need more.

Benign tumors

A benign (not harmful) tumor usually isn’t life-threatening. It can grow and press on surrounding organs or blood vessels. If this happens, the pressure can impact other organs or how your lungs work. Your doctor will probably remove the tumor with a lobectomy.

Emphysema 

This is a type of COPD. It’s a lung problem that makes it harder to breathe. Over time, your air sacs lose shape or get floppy. These sacs can’t fill up with air. 

If pulmonary rehab and treatments aren’t working, a lobectomy may help. Surgery removes large air spaces or damaged tissue so you can breathe better.

Tuberculosis

Medication treats most chronic TB infections, which are caused by a type of bacteria. It helps most people get better. 

But treating resistant types of TB can be difficult. If this happens, a lobectomy can help you recover. In fact, about 5 in 100 people benefit from this treatment.

Fungal infection

Sometimes, a lobectomy can help treat fungal infections such as Aspergillus fumigatus. Most mild infections don’t need treatment. And you’ll likely get an X-ray to monitor this fungus. But if a fungal ball forms inside your lung, it can cause bleeding. And your doctor may do a lobectomy.

Lung abscess

Sometimes, an infection (such as a bacterial one) can form an abscess — a pocket of pus. If medication doesn’t help the pus go away, you may need a lobectomy. It can remove the infected parts of your lung or lobe.

Doctors can do the surgery in a few different ways. The one that’s right for you can depend on your medical condition, medications, and overall health. Before your surgery, you’ll meet your surgical team. 

You’ll see your thoracic surgeon, who specializes in the chest, heart, and lungs. You’ll also meet your anesthesiologist, the doctor who puts you to sleep.

You’ll get an IV (in your vein) and medicine to put you to sleep (anesthesia). Once asleep, they’ll carefully position you on the operating table for your surgery. 

You’ll be fast asleep for your surgery and won’t feel any pain. You’ll also get a breathing tube that’s hooked to a machine (ventilator). This helps you breathe during surgery And they’ll put a catheter in your bladder to drain your urine (pee).

Thoracotomy

A thoracotomy is an open surgery that helps your surgeon reach your lungs. It also helps them see other organs in your chest and do a biopsy. Your doctor will take out a small piece of tissue for diagnosis during a biopsy. Here’s what you can expect during a thoracotomy:

  • You’ll get about a 6-inch cut along the side of your chest — usually between your fifth and sixth ribs.
  • A heated probe helps your surgeon get through your muscles. 
  • They’ll spread your ribs apart to remove a lobe of your lung and take a biopsy — carefully breaking or dividing a rib, if needed.
  • A small chest tube is left in to expand your lung once they close up your cut. It also helps air and fluid drain out. But they’ll remove it later.

You may also get a plastic tube (epidural catheter) in the middle of your back. It puts medicine directly into your nervous system (spinal canal) to quickly relieve pain.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)

Your surgeon uses small cuts (minimally invasive) and special tools for this surgery. They’ll make small quarter-inch to 2-inch long cuts on the side of your chest. Or you may just get one cut, called a uniport VATS (U-VATS) surgery.

After guiding a tube with a tiny video camera into your chest, your surgeon can see inside it. The tube helps get the surgical tools in, too. Next, they’ll remove the lobe and any tissues or organs, if needed. Unlike open surgery, VATS doesn’t involve a big cut. So, you’re likely to heal faster and have less pain.

Robotic surgery

Your surgeon sits at a console next to you and controls robotic arms. They’ll make three or four half-inch cuts between your ribs.

Robotic surgery can lower your chances for bleeding and infection. You may recover faster, too.

Any surgery can have risks such as infection or bleeding. General anesthesia can raise your risk for heart attack, stroke, or blood clots. You’re at risk for pneumonia, too.

Lobectomy is a major surgery. Because your remaining lung usually has a tube to drain for a long time, you may have a higher risk for:

  • Infection
  • A collapsed lung, which can prevent your lung from filling with air when you breathe in
  • Air or fluid leaking into your chest
  • Pus forming in the space between your lungs and the wall of your chest
  • Bleeding that needs open chest surgery or a blood transfusion
  • Blood clots (in your legs)
  • Air leak from your lungs lasting over a week
  • Heart rhythm problem (atrial fibrillation)
  • Diaphragm nerve damage (muscle helps you expand your chest) or voice problem
  • Trapped air under your skin (subcutaneous emphysema)

Emphysema or bronchitis can also cause shortness of breath during certain activities, after lobectomy. But if you didn’t have these problems before surgery, they're less likely to happen afterward. The chances of problems can depend on your overall health, among other things. Be sure to talk to your doctor about your particular risks.

“Healthy patients with otherwise normal lungs oftentimes do not notice any difference because there is sufficient reserve in the lungs,” says Kalvin Lung, MD, an assistant professor of thoracic surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. “If there is trouble breathing after the surgery, it will generally improve the most within the first month, but can continue to improve even after six to nine months.”

Your doctor will ask you about your medical history. They’ll also order tests to check the health of your lungs. You’ll get blood work, breathing tests, and a physical exam.

You’ll likely undergo many other tests, too. You may get a:

  • Biopsy
  • Chest X-ray
  • CT scan
  • PET scan
  • Electrocardiogram
  • Cardiac stress test
  • MRI or CT scan of your head

Your doctor may also suggest pulmonary rehabilitation to help improve your breathing. It’s like an exercise program for your lungs. You’ll go before and after your operation. And you may get physical therapy, too. Your doctor may also ask you to:

Stop smoking. It’s best to quit at least a month before surgery. Smoking can slow down your healing. It can raise your risk for more problems after surgery, too. If you can’t quit, try to cut back before your surgery.

Exercise regularly.Exercise is good for your overall well-being. It also helps you expand your lungs and can help your lungs work better. Try taking a short walk or hike. But always ask your doctor about the best exercise for your health.

Stop certain medicines.You may need to avoid medicines that will thin your blood. This can include aspirin, too. Your doctor can tell you if you need to stop taking medications.

Let your doctor know if you:

  • Are pregnant or think you may be
  • Have any allergies
  • Take prescription or over-the-counter medicines
  • Use supplements
  • Have a bleeding disorder

Ask a friend or family member to help you get home from the hospital. Ask your doctor about any other steps you can take and make sure you follow them.

When you wake up, you’ll be in a recovery room. You’ll probably be groggy or confused at first. It’s normal, as the anesthesia wears off. They’ll monitor your vital signs (heart rate and breathing). And you may get X-rays of your chest, too. This helps your doctor see how your lungs are doing. 

Once you’re in your hospital room, your family can visit you. If you’ve had open surgery, you may be in the hospital for up to a week. But with VATS or robotic surgery, you’ll typically go home sooner. 

Pain after lobectomy

After surgery, you’ll get pain medication. And they’ll check your drainage tubes to make sure the air and fluid gets out. These tubes may cause some pain, but they’ll be removed before you go home. 

Most people have some discomfort in the first few weeks after surgery. But your pain medicine will help you with it. You’ll need them less over time. Warm showers are also a good way to ease the soreness and any stiffness in your chest.

Deep breathing exercises

Your team will show you how to breathe deeply. You’ll also cough to allow your remaining lungs to expand.

You’ll likely get a breathing device called an incentive spirometer. It helps you take deep breaths and avoid infections such as pneumonia.

Oxygen

You may need oxygen right after surgery. Usually, you won’t need it by the time you go home. If you do, make sure you or a family member knows how it works and how to hook up any tubes.

Fatigue

You may feel tired or out of breath at first. That’s normal and should get better in a few weeks. Give yourself time to heal. But if the fatigue (tiredness) doesn’t improve after a few weeks, tell your doctor.

Constipation after lobectomy

Anesthesia, pain pills, and not moving much can make it hard to move your bowels (constipation). Things should go back to normal after you stop taking the pain medicine. 

In the meantime, drink water to stay hydrated. And if your doctor prescribes laxatives or stool softeners, take them to help your bowels.

Exercise after lobectomy

You can keep moving after surgery, even if you’re in bed. Aim to get up and move around as soon as you can. Your doctor may also ask you to walk on the same day as your surgery. 

Once you’re able, it’s a good idea to walk every day to regain your strength. It can keep your lungs healthy and clear, too. Ask your doctor before returning to your normal exercise routine, though. They’ll likely tell you not to lift anything more than 10 pounds for up to three months.

Wound care

You’ll need to keep your cuts (incisions) clean and dry. This helps cut down your risk for infection. Also avoid things such as swimming, bathing, or going under water. 

Wait until your wounds have healed fully. Your doctor will tell you how to bathe. But after your stitches or staples and the chest tube come out, you’ll be able to bathe normally.

Follow-up care

You’ll have follow-up visits with your doctor. They’ll check on how you’re healing. It may take you a few weeks before you start feeling normal. 

“Follow-up appointments are scheduled to monitor recovery, with tests to check lung function and ensure no complications arise,” says Harmik J. Soukiasian, MD, Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, CA.

You’ll fully recover at home. And it will take time. “Full recovery typically takes weeks to months, with gradual improvement in stamina and lung function,” says Soukiasian.

What to avoid after lobectomy

One thing to avoid is your job. “Take a few weeks off of work to recover,” says Schraufnagel. During recovery, try to avoid things that can make you sick or irritate your lungs, such as:

  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Smoke
  • Chemical fumes
  • Air pollution

When to see a doctor

Call your doctor if you notice signs of infection, such as a cough, diarrhea, or colored mucus or phlegm. Call if you’ve been constipated longer than two days or have more nausea or vomiting. And get treatment right away for any urinary tract infections.

After your surgery, your doctor will explain what to watch for. Get medical help right away if you:

  • Have a high temperature (101 F or higher)
  • Notice redness, swelling, blood, or fluid around your cuts
  • Have foul-smelling discharge (pus) from your cuts
  • Have worse or uncontrolled pain (especially in your belly)
  • Are short of breath or have painful breathing
  • Cough up red fluid or blood
  • Get a racing or irregular heartbeat
  • Get confused, feel faint, or mentally out of sorts
  • Feel numb or weak in your legs or arms
  • Have increased pain or swollen ankles and legs
  • Get a sudden serious headache

It can depend on many things, such as your age, well-being, and other medical conditions.

“The primary factors influencing long-term survival include the reason for the lobectomy, the patient’s recovery, and their ability to maintain overall health,” says Soukiasian. “For example, patients who undergo lobectomy for lung cancer may have a better chance of long-term survival. If the cancer is caught early and fully removed, they will need regular follow-ups and possibly additional treatments.” 

If you had a lobectomy for lung cancer, how long you live can depend on your cancer stage. Usually, if your cancer is still gone after five years, your doctor may consider you cured.

“People who are treated with a lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer have a very good prognosis and can live even longer than 20 years,” says Schraufnagel.

If you had surgery for something else, how long you live can depend on the health of your lungs. Your surgeon will remove the damaged lobes to help you breathe better, but other health issues can also affect your outcome.

“For those with conditions like COPD or emphysema, survival depends on the extent of lung damage and how well the remaining lung functions. In either case, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding smoking, and following medical advice are critical for long-term outcomes,” points out Soukiasian.

 

Lobectomy removes one or more lobes of your lungs. It’s commonly done for early-stage lung cancer but can help with other health problems, too. Your surgeon can do it using an open thoracotomy or small cuts (minimally invasive). You’ll likely breathe better after your surgery. But talk to your doctor to know how to prepare, care for yourself, and exercise your lungs to speed up recovery.

Is lobectomy major surgery?

Lobectomy is a major surgery. But surgery using smaller cuts and robotic arms or video-assisted techniques can speed your recovery.

Can you live a normal life after a lobectomy?

Recovery will take weeks or months. But you can live a normal life after your lobectomy. It can depend on things such as your health condition and the reason for your surgery. 

What fills the space after a lobectomy?

Your remaining lung tissue can stretch out (expand) after your lobectomy. Your doctor will show you how to do breathing exercises. These help speed up your recovery.

How painful is a lung lobectomy?

You may have some pain after your surgery (lobectomy). But everyone experiences it differently. Many people leave the hospital with about a week of pain medication. 

If you're having serious pain or if it's getting worse, call your doctor. Something else may be going on, and you may need medical help. 

Can you live 20 years after a lobectomy?

It usually depends on why you had the surgery and your health conditions. After a lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer, about 72 in 100 people live for five years, and about 45 in 100 live for 10 years.

“People who are treated with a lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer have a very good prognosis and can live even longer than 20 years,” says Schraufnagel.

What is the best position for a lobectomy?

Usually, you’ll lie on the side opposite to where your surgeon will operate (lateral decubitus). So, if you’re getting a left lobectomy, you’ll lie on your right side. But sometimes, your surgeon will have you lie on your back (supine), or rarely, on your stomach.