About Thoracoscopic Wedge Resection
Key Highlights
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Minimally Invasive: Performed through small incisions, avoiding a large chest opening (thoracotomy).Reduced Pain & Scarring: Results in significantly less post-operative pain and minimal scarring compared to open surgery.Faster Recovery: Patients typically experience a quicker return to normal activities and a shorter hospital stay.listrongDiagnostic & Therapeutic:/strong Provides a tissue sample for definitive diagnosis while also treating the condition if the lesion is removed completely./lilistrongPreserves Lung Function:/strong Removes only the diseased tissue, conserving as much healthy lung as possible./li/ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Diagnosis of a solitary pulmonary nodule or mass of unknown cause.
- Treatment of suspected early-stage lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC) in patients who cannot tolerate a larger resection.
- Removal of a metastatic lung tumor from another primary cancer site.
- Biopsy or treatment of localized lung infections that have not responded to medication (e.g., fungal ball).
- Treatment of certain benign lung conditions, such as a localized area of interstitial lung disease or a benign tumor.
How to prepare
- Complete a thorough pre-operative evaluation, including blood tests, imaging (CT scan), and pulmonary function tests.
- Discuss all current medications with your doctor; you may need to stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin, warfarin) several days prior.
- Refrain from eating or drinking (fast) for 6-12 hours before the procedure as instructed.
- Undergo pre-operative counseling to understand the procedure, risks, and recovery process.
- Arrange for transportation home and for help during the initial recovery period after hospital discharge.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding (hemorrhage) during or after the procedure.
- Air leak from the lung (prolonged air leak/pneumothorax), which may require a longer hospital stay or an additional chest tube.
- Infection at the incision sites or within the chest (empyema).
- Reaction to general anesthesia.
- Persistent pain at the incision sites or in the chest wall.
- Rarely, injury to surrounding structures like blood vessels, the heart, or the diaphragm.
- Potential need to convert to an open thoracotomy during the procedure if complications arise.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Hospital stay is typically 1-3 days. A chest tube, placed during surgery to drain fluid and air, is usually removed before discharge.
- Manage pain with prescribed medications. Deep breathing and incentive spirometry exercises are crucial to prevent lung collapse and pneumonia.
- Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activities, and driving for 2-4 weeks as advised by your doctor.
- Gradually increase walking and light activities. Full recovery to normal energy levels may take 3-6 weeks.
- Attend all follow-up appointments to monitor healing, review pathology results, and discuss further treatment if needed.
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Typical hospital stay: 1-3 days
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Expected recovery time: 3-6 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering thoracoscopic wedge resection in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for thoracoscopic wedge resection in India include Kamineni Hospital, King Koti, Manipal Hospital Varthur Road, 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 thoracoscopic wedge resection. 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 thoracoscopic wedge resection compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Thoracoscopic Wedge Resection in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated pulmonology teams and experience managing patients undergoing thoracoscopic wedge resection.
Angel Chopra, a 58-year-old former shipyard...
Angel Chopra, a 58-year-old former shipyard welder, had a persistent, dry cough for months. A lifelong non-smoker, he was worried when a routine chest X-ray for his annual physical revealed a small, suspicious nodule in his right lung. A follow-up CT scan showed it had grown slightly. His pulmonologist, Dr. Evans, explained that given Angel's occupational exposure to asbestos and other fumes decades ago, a biopsy was crucial. She recommended a thoracoscopic wedge resection, explaining it as a minimally invasive 'keyhole' surgery to remove the small, wedge-shaped piece of lung containing the nodule for diagnosis and potential cure. Angel was terrified of cancer and major surgery. The procedure itself was smoother than he feared; three small incisions, no large chest opening, and he woke up with manageable pain. Pathology confirmed it was a primary lung adenocarcinoma, caught at Stage 1, with clear margins. After a week of soreness and careful breathing exercises, his recovery was steady. The emotional relief was profound. The fear of the unknown was replaced by a clear diagnosis and a curative treatment plan. He felt grateful for the early detection and the technology that allowed him to avoid a more invasive operation, now focused on surveillance and enjoying time with his grandchildren.
Pulmonologists for Thoracoscopic Wedge Resection
Explore experienced pulmonologists who regularly perform thoracoscopic wedge resection and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 15 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 23 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 24 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 22 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 20 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Artemis Hospital Gurgaon, Gurgaon
- 35 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 33 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
- 33 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 32 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Kamineni Hospital, King Koti, Hyderabad
- 32 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 29 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
- 26 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 25 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 15 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa, vijayawada
- 14 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Metro Hospital, Sector 12, Noida
- 12 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 8 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 7 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Metro Hospital, Sector 12, Noida
- 6 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 4 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa, vijayawada