Pleurectomy or Decortication Treatment in India
About Pleurectomy or Decortication
Key Highlights
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Can significantly improve breathing capacity and relieve debilitating chest pain.Offers a potentially curative or effective management option for certain pleural cancers like mesothelioma.Helps prevent recurrent fluid buildup (pleural effusions) in the chest cavity.Removes infected or scarred tissue, treating conditions like chronic empyema.Performed by highly skilled cardiac or thoracic surgeons for precision near vital structures.
Who is this surgery for?
- Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (a cancer of the pleural lining).
- Recurrent or complicated pleural effusions (fluid buildup) not controlled by simpler drainage.
- Chronic or organized empyema (pus in the pleural space) with trapped lung.
- Severe pleural thickening or fibrosis restricting lung function.
- Certain cases of advanced pleural tuberculosis or other chronic infections.
- As part of a surgical management plan for select metastatic cancers to the pleura.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive evaluation including chest CT scan, pulmonary function tests, and often a biopsy.
- Pre-operative cardiac and pulmonary assessment to ensure fitness for major surgery.
- Blood tests, ECG, and consultations with an anesthesiologist.
- Discontinuation of certain medications like blood thinners as advised by the surgeon.
- Fasting for 8-12 hours before the scheduled surgery time.
- Discussion of the procedure, risks, benefits, and post-operative care plan with the surgical team.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding, infection, or blood clots (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism).
- Persistent air leak from the lung requiring extended chest tube drainage.
- Respiratory complications like pneumonia or respiratory failure.
- Injury to nearby structures such as the lung, heart, diaphragm, or major blood vessels.
- Post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (chronic chest wall pain).
- Recurrence of the underlying disease or fluid accumulation.
- Risks associated with general anesthesia.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial recovery in the ICU or a high-dependency unit for close monitoring.
- Chest tubes remain in place for several days to drain fluid and air until the lung is fully expanded.
- Aggressive pain management is crucial to facilitate deep breathing and coughing exercises.
- Early mobilization with assistance to prevent complications.
- Respiratory therapy including incentive spirometry to improve lung function.
- Follow-up appointments to monitor healing, remove stitches, and assess lung function.
- A gradual return to normal activities over several weeks, avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous exercise initially.
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Typical hospital stay:
7-14 days
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Expected recovery time:
6-12 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering pleurectomy or decortication in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for pleurectomy or decortication in India include Miot Hospital Chennai, Kamineni Hospital, King Koti, Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, 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 pleurectomy or decortication. MediFyr helps you compare cardiac surgeons 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 pleurectomy or decortication compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Pleurectomy or Decortication in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated cardiac surgery teams and experience managing patients undergoing pleurectomy or decortication.
Hyderabad, India
20 Doctors
Emily Malhotra, a 58-year-old high school...
Emily Malhotra, a 58-year-old high school biology teacher and avid gardener, had a persistent cough and increasing shortness of breath for six months. Initially dismissed as a lingering infection, her symptoms worsened until she struggled to walk across her classroom. A CT scan revealed a large, organized empyema, a pocket of infected fluid and thick rind around her left lung, a complication from a severe pneumonia she had battled a year prior. Her cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Chen, explained that her lung was trapped and couldn't expand. A decortication was necessary to peel this inflammatory peel off her lung and allow it to re-inflate. The surgery was long and complex, requiring a thoracotomy. Post-op, Emily faced significant pain and a chest tube for a week, but she felt immediate relief in her breathing capacity. After a month of pulmonary rehab, she regained 90% of her lung function. Emotionally, she was terrified of the invasive surgery and feared she'd never garden again. The relief of taking a deep, full breath for the first time post-surgery brought her to tears. She now leads a school gardening club, her energy restored.
Cardiac surgeons for Pleurectomy or Decortication
Explore experienced cardiac surgeons who regularly perform pleurectomy or decortication and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 31 Years Experience
- Pediatric Cardiac surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 37 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 30 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 21 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 11 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 13 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
- 31 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 13 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 15 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 30 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 16 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 23 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Mysore, Mysore
- 13 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, vijayawada
- 23 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 37 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
SIMS Hospital Vadapalani, Chennai
- 8 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
SIMS Hospital Vadapalani, Chennai
- 11 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
SIMS Hospital Vadapalani, Chennai
- 17 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
SIMS Hospital Vadapalani, Chennai
- 11 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore
- 15 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore