Decortication Treatment in India
About Decortication
Key Highlights
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Restores lung expansion and improves breathing capacity.Alleviates chronic chest pain and discomfort associated with a trapped lung.Treats the underlying cause of recurrent pleural effusions or infections.Prevents long-term respiratory impairment and disability.Can be performed via minimally invasive (VATS) or traditional open thoracotomy approaches.
Who is this surgery for?
- Chronic, organized empyema (infected pleural fluid) that fails to resolve with antibiotics or chest tube drainage.
- Fibrothorax or trapped lung syndrome, where a thick pleural peel restricts lung expansion.
- Persistent pleural thickening causing significant lung entrapment and respiratory symptoms.
- Hemothorax (blood in the pleural space) that has organized and is restricting the lung.
- Complicated parapneumonic effusions that have progressed to the fibrotic stage.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive pre-operative assessment including pulmonary function tests (PFTs), chest CT scan, and echocardiogram.
- Optimization of nutritional status and management of any co-existing conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
- Pre-operative counseling about the procedure, risks, and recovery expectations.
- Discontinuation of blood-thinning medications (e.g., aspirin, warfarin) as advised by the doctor.
- Fasting for 8-12 hours before the scheduled surgery.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding (hemorrhage) during or after the procedure.
- Infection at the surgical site or within the chest (empyema recurrence).
- Air leak (prolonged pneumothorax) from the lung surface.
- Injury to surrounding structures like the diaphragm, heart, or major blood vessels.
- Post-operative pain, which can be significant, especially after open thoracotomy.
- Respiratory failure or pneumonia.
- Rare risks include blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) and adverse reactions to anesthesia.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial recovery in the hospital with chest tubes to drain fluid and air, typically for several days.
- Aggressive pain management to facilitate deep breathing and coughing exercises.
- Early mobilization and respiratory physiotherapy to prevent complications and promote lung re-expansion.
- Discharge with instructions on wound care, activity restrictions (no heavy lifting), and pain medication.
- Follow-up appointments to monitor lung function and healing via chest X-rays.
- Gradual return to normal activities over several weeks, with full recovery of strength taking months.
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Typical hospital stay:
5-10 days
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Expected recovery time:
6-12 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering decortication in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for decortication in India include Manipal Hospital Varthur Road, Kamineni Hospital, King Koti, Artemis Hospital Gurgaon, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform decortication. MediFyr helps you compare pulmonologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for decortication compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Decortication in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated pulmonology teams and experience managing patients undergoing decortication.
Gurgaon, India
141 Doctors
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Pulmonologists for Decortication
Explore experienced pulmonologists who regularly perform decortication and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 22 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Dwarka
- 16 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Siliguri
- 10 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital EM Bypass
- 8 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road
- 16 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake
- 16 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Artemis Hospital Gurgaon
- 16 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
KMC Hospital Mangalore
- 12 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada
- 15 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Kharadi
- 26 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
KMC Hospital Mangalore
- 14 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospitals Broadway
- 18 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria
- 13 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur
- 23 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake
- 29 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Jaipur
- 37 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road
- 5 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Siliguri
- 9 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Dwarka
- 13 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Varthur Road
- 9 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram