Surgery to treat mesothelioma is not a standard option because the disease is usually not diagnosed until it is in a late stage. Most surgeries for mesothelioma patients are palliative to relieve symptoms of the disease and improve their quality of life. There is currently no cure for mesothelioma, and any surgical procedures that are performed are predominantly used as preventative treatment measures.
Mesothelioma Surgical Options
Mesothelioma Surgical OptionThere are several different options for surgery for those suffering from mesothelioma. Some surgeries can be performed multiple times on the same patient, while others are saved as a last resort measure. The idea behind any of the procedures is to make the patient more comfortable for the time they have left. The typical surgical options include:
Thoracentesis – This procedure involves the removal of fluid that has built up around the lining of the lungs. The fluid causes chest pain and shortness of breath, so the removal process relieves these symptoms. This procedure is the most commonly performed for mesothelioma and it can be performed as an outpatient procedure. If a patient is suffering from mesothelioma of the heart or abdomen, a similar surgery can be performed to drain fluid from these areas.
Pleurodesis – This procedure involves talc or other chemicals that are injected into the chest cavity to prevent the recurrence of fluid buildup. This procedure works almost 90% of the time for patients. Although the procedure is deemed successful, it is only a temporary measure. Since anesthesia is used as part of this procedure, it is done in a hospital.
Pleurectomy – A pleurectomy is a surgery involving the complete decortification of the lung and parietal pleura. This surgery involves a complete resection of both the parietal and visceral pleura. In addition, a pericardial, diaphragmatic or additional lung nodule resection may be involved.
In addition to those suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma, patients with a pleural effusion or trauma might undergo this procedure. Typically thoracic or cardiothoracic surgeons perform the surgery, which requires a general anesthesia, putting the patient completely asleep during the procedure.
An invasive surgery involving an incision above the diseased area and the removal of the affected pleura and tissues, chemotherapy or radiation might also be used to treat malignant mesothelioma patients. While pleurocentesis is often used to reduce fluid buildup and provide pain relief, a pleurectomy is sometimes recommended to more aggressively treat this condition.
Although a more involved procedure, a pleurectomy can provide the lasting comfort patients suffering from pleural effusion seek. Patients undergo a post-operative interview following the procedure, where the doctor will recommend steps to aid healing, including deep breathing exercises and frequent bandage changes. Typically, patients employed in sedentary professions will be allowed to return to work after a couple of weeks.
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy – During this procedure, a surgeon removes the lining of the chest wall, pericardium, diaphragm, and the entire lung on the side of the body where the tumor is present. Surgeons then reconstruct the pericardium and the diaphragm using prosthetic material. Because of the nature of the surgery, it is only performed if the doctor believes a cure is possible. Patients receiving this surgery must have localized epithelial mesothelioma and have good health. Only doctors who specialize in this surgery can perform it so patients often have to travel to a major medical center for this procedure.
Lobectomy - A lobectomy for malignant mesothlioma treatment involves the surgical excision, or removal, of a patient’s lung. Performed on those in the early stages of pleural mesothelioma, this procedure is not performed on patients with metastasized cancers.
Because of its high level of invasiveness, this surgery is only performed on healthy patients that doctors feel can withstand the stress of the procedure and the subsequent recovery process. A lobectomy is performed during a thoractomy, where an incision in the chest and rib removal or spreading allows the surgeon access to the lung.
After the incision is made and doctors have access to the affected lung, the main arteries, air tubes and veins receive clamps before being severed. Free of any connecting tissue, the lobe is then removed. A drainage tube insertion follows, ending with the closing of the surgical wound. The drainage tube prevents lung collapse or the post-operative buildup of fluids.
Requiring general anesthesia, this surgery is recognized as among the most difficult based on the difficult recovery process, which includes high levels of pain. As a result of this pain, patients may not breathe deeply, leading to further complications like atelectasis, a lack of gas exchange within the alveoli, or pneumonia.
References:
American Cancer Society
Mayo Clinic
Mesothelioma Surgical Options
Mesothelioma Surgical OptionThere are several different options for surgery for those suffering from mesothelioma. Some surgeries can be performed multiple times on the same patient, while others are saved as a last resort measure. The idea behind any of the procedures is to make the patient more comfortable for the time they have left. The typical surgical options include:
Thoracentesis – This procedure involves the removal of fluid that has built up around the lining of the lungs. The fluid causes chest pain and shortness of breath, so the removal process relieves these symptoms. This procedure is the most commonly performed for mesothelioma and it can be performed as an outpatient procedure. If a patient is suffering from mesothelioma of the heart or abdomen, a similar surgery can be performed to drain fluid from these areas.
Pleurodesis – This procedure involves talc or other chemicals that are injected into the chest cavity to prevent the recurrence of fluid buildup. This procedure works almost 90% of the time for patients. Although the procedure is deemed successful, it is only a temporary measure. Since anesthesia is used as part of this procedure, it is done in a hospital.
Pleurectomy – A pleurectomy is a surgery involving the complete decortification of the lung and parietal pleura. This surgery involves a complete resection of both the parietal and visceral pleura. In addition, a pericardial, diaphragmatic or additional lung nodule resection may be involved.
In addition to those suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma, patients with a pleural effusion or trauma might undergo this procedure. Typically thoracic or cardiothoracic surgeons perform the surgery, which requires a general anesthesia, putting the patient completely asleep during the procedure.
An invasive surgery involving an incision above the diseased area and the removal of the affected pleura and tissues, chemotherapy or radiation might also be used to treat malignant mesothelioma patients. While pleurocentesis is often used to reduce fluid buildup and provide pain relief, a pleurectomy is sometimes recommended to more aggressively treat this condition.
Although a more involved procedure, a pleurectomy can provide the lasting comfort patients suffering from pleural effusion seek. Patients undergo a post-operative interview following the procedure, where the doctor will recommend steps to aid healing, including deep breathing exercises and frequent bandage changes. Typically, patients employed in sedentary professions will be allowed to return to work after a couple of weeks.
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy – During this procedure, a surgeon removes the lining of the chest wall, pericardium, diaphragm, and the entire lung on the side of the body where the tumor is present. Surgeons then reconstruct the pericardium and the diaphragm using prosthetic material. Because of the nature of the surgery, it is only performed if the doctor believes a cure is possible. Patients receiving this surgery must have localized epithelial mesothelioma and have good health. Only doctors who specialize in this surgery can perform it so patients often have to travel to a major medical center for this procedure.
Lobectomy - A lobectomy for malignant mesothlioma treatment involves the surgical excision, or removal, of a patient’s lung. Performed on those in the early stages of pleural mesothelioma, this procedure is not performed on patients with metastasized cancers.
Because of its high level of invasiveness, this surgery is only performed on healthy patients that doctors feel can withstand the stress of the procedure and the subsequent recovery process. A lobectomy is performed during a thoractomy, where an incision in the chest and rib removal or spreading allows the surgeon access to the lung.
After the incision is made and doctors have access to the affected lung, the main arteries, air tubes and veins receive clamps before being severed. Free of any connecting tissue, the lobe is then removed. A drainage tube insertion follows, ending with the closing of the surgical wound. The drainage tube prevents lung collapse or the post-operative buildup of fluids.
Requiring general anesthesia, this surgery is recognized as among the most difficult based on the difficult recovery process, which includes high levels of pain. As a result of this pain, patients may not breathe deeply, leading to further complications like atelectasis, a lack of gas exchange within the alveoli, or pneumonia.
References:
American Cancer Society
Mayo Clinic
