Decortication Surgery

Shelling is a medical procedure that involves surgically removing the outer layer, the membrane, or fibrous cover of an organ. The procedure is usually performed when the lung is covered with a thick, inelastic expansion Peel prevent lungs pleural. In a non-medical decortication is the removal of the bark, straw, or the outer layer of an object. It is also used for the treatment of chronic laryngitis.

When you perform a decortication of the lung, which is the most commonly used, the patient is under general anesthesia and the thoracic cavity is divided as it is for an open heart surgery. Studies of surgical areas of pleural membrane (a type of enclosure that surrounds the lungs) to find areas that have fiber and scars, and removes them. The next step is to close the surgical opening and cause the patient to anesthesia. This is a major operation, it is invasive and the patient requires several days of surveillance in a hospital to determine if the patient is healing, as he / she should.

When the pleura is thickened, which usually causes pain and discomfort for the patient. If left pleural thickening more, can lead to problems, such as a difficult patient to breathe. In addition, when the lung is involved can be difficult to swell, can not be pushed out of the way the pleura. Since the patient is fighting a lack of oxygen, this can lead to shortness of breath and other serious medical problems.

Pleural mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos occurs when asbestos fibers trapped in the deadly space between the mesothelial cells. When they are caught in the mesothelium, the fibers will automatically get cancer cells to divide irregularly causing severe thickening of the pleural membrane. This can cause excess fluid called pleural effusion. The liquid then put pressure on the lungs and breathing (respiratory) system to prevent regular breathing.

Pleurectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part of lung disease, the lining of the lungs. This is a type of surgery is performed to treat mesothelioma, a rare species of lung cancer is often associated with exposure to asbestos. The surgeon will remove the pleura, which is an area where most of the malignant tumor is usually found. If the cancer is at a very early stage, doctors believe pleurectomy as a healing remedy potential or treatment. Other patients in more advanced stages of cancer to get some sort of surgery as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms.

Then there is an empyema, or infection of the area of ​​the pleura. They are usually caused by pneumonia in the patient. Many patients who develop pneumonia plural effusion. Normally, pleural effusion cleared up when the pneumonia is treated. Often in other patients without perfusion do not disappear, but become infected. An infusion is known as infected pleural empyema. Empyema generally will not respond to antibiotics, nor do they get by themselves. Most of these infections require a surgical exploration and drainage.