Question 1

felt a "pop" by spinal cord & air release w/severe pain. er diagnosis lung cyst rupture. i have lam (lymphangioleiomyomatosis). how long to heal? so painful!

Accepted Answer

LAM: Spontaneous pneumothoraces are not uncommon in patients with lam. Unfortunately, it is a recurrent problem. The time to heal will depend on the severity or the size of the pneumothorax which will determine whether a chest tube is needed or not.

Question 2

how effective is a thoracotomy for treating lung cancer?

Accepted Answer

Very: Surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer is the best treatment overall. It removes the tumor, and allows for examination of the lymph nodes to determine if it has spread outside of the immediate area. Resection can be done by thoracotomy or thoracoscopy. The choice of approach depends on the training and experience of the operating surgeon.

Question 3

is it bad to sneeze after you gone through 3 lung collapses and and a thoracotomy procedure almost two weeks ago? it hurts when i sneeze

Accepted Answer

M.D. visit: Most likely the pain that you are experiencing is related to muscular strain from the procedure. If you are experiencing shortness of breath and/or the pain continues, please see your physician. 
Prmg/pediatric respiratory can review records for ?S at 858 259 9689.

Question 4

i am terrified of having another lung collapse, i had 3 lung collapses over the course of a month and then a thoracotomy , is it possible to go away?

Accepted Answer

May go away: You have what is called as recurrent pneumothorax. Have you been seen by a pulmonologist? If not you will need to be. The surest way of preventing another pneumothorax is by doing pleurodhesis.

Question 5

i had a open lung biopsy and thoracotomy less then 2months ago i am having ruq pain and numbness is this normal. ?

Accepted Answer

Numbness: I am assuming your numbness is near the incision which you had for the surgery. If that is the case numbness as a result of having the small cutaneous nerves which travel along the skin is common. With incisions in the chest wall pain can take months to resolve. As always, however, i would recommend you discuss your symptoms with your surgeon to be sure other ominous sources are not responsible.

Question 6

how does it really feel when you get a part of your lung removed from a thoracotomy procedure due to pneumothorax? do you feel short of breath?

Accepted Answer

Thoracotomy: Immediately after surgery you do feel short of breath and it may be necessary to use oxygen for several months.

Question 7

i recently had a open lung biopsy and thoracotomy less then 2months ago. i have severe ruq pain sice procedure and numbness is this nml? what is it?

Accepted Answer

Intercostal nerve: Injury common issue after thoracotomy talk to surgeon many resolve with time neuropraxia.

Question 8

my sister had pleural empyema in a collapsed lung. the doctor avoided thoracotomy as being underweight, she might not cope with the anesthesia. what should i do?

Accepted Answer

Empyema: Can be treated with percutaneous catheter drainage and tpa (alteplase) therapy to the pleural space along with the appropriate antibiotics. If this fails video assisted thoracotomy or vats may be performed. True thoracotomy only needed if these procedures fail. I use cat scan guidance to do the drainage and it works well.

Question 9

i have copd and i had a thoracotomy on my right lung to repair recurring pneumothorax of right lung. (over 50 years ago.) could these conditions skew the results of an echocardiogram for aortic valve stenois?

Accepted Answer

No,they should have: no bearing on an echocardiogram reading of aortic stenosis.

Question 10

is it normal to feel a little short of breath, and have minor chest and back pains after having a thoracotomy procedure done like almost two weeks ago?

Accepted Answer

Pretty common. : Minor issues like you mention are expected after the trauma of surgery. If things get worse, or stop gradually improving, see your doctor.

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Doctor answers about:

What is the cpt code for removal of lung cyst thoracotomy

A member asked:

Felt a "pop" by spinal cord & air release w/severe pain. er diagnosis lung cyst rupture. i have lam (lymphangioleiomyomatosis). how long to heal? so painful!

A member asked:

How effective is a thoracotomy for treating lung cancer?

A member asked:

Is it bad to sneeze after you gone through 3 lung collapses and and a thoracotomy procedure almost two weeks ago? it hurts when i sneeze

A member asked:

I am terrified of having another lung collapse, i had 3 lung collapses over the course of a month and then a thoracotomy , is it possible to go away?

A member asked:

I had a open lung biopsy and thoracotomy less then 2months ago i am having ruq pain and numbness is this normal. ?

A member asked:

How does it really feel when you get a part of your lung removed from a thoracotomy procedure due to pneumothorax? do you feel short of breath?

A member asked:

I recently had a open lung biopsy and thoracotomy less then 2months ago. i have severe ruq pain sice procedure and numbness is this nml? what is it?

A member asked:

My sister had pleural empyema in a collapsed lung. the doctor avoided thoracotomy as being underweight, she might not cope with the anesthesia. what should i do?

A member asked:

I have copd and i had a thoracotomy on my right lung to repair recurring pneumothorax of right lung. (over 50 years ago.) could these conditions skew the results of an echocardiogram for aortic valve stenois?

A member asked:

Is it normal to feel a little short of breath, and have minor chest and back pains after having a thoracotomy procedure done like almost two weeks ago?

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