Lung Surgery

Learn about a minimally invasive option for lung surgery. Common procedures include lobectomy, wedge resection, and segmentectomy.

Always Learning, Documentary About Unlocking New Thoracic Surgery Capabilities

Documentary video about the training pathway for surgeons acquiring skills in robotic surgery using da Vinci systems.

May 13, 2022 | 00:05:51

Always Learning, Documentary About Unlocking New Thoracic Surgery Capabilities

Documentary video about the training pathway for surgeons acquiring skills in robotic surgery using da Vinci systems.

May 13, 2022 | 00:05:51
EndoWrist instrument dexterity

This video demonstrates the dexterity of da Vinci EndoWrist surgical instruments.

Jun 17, 2019 | 00:00:58

Focus on your care

There are several conditions that may prompt your doctor to recommend lung surgery. They can range from benign (noncancerous) conditions to cancer conditions. If your doctor has determined you have lung cancer, know that you’re not alone. It is the second most common cancer among men and women who live in the U.S.¹

It’s important to learn about the many options for care available. You and your doctor can discuss your choices and decide which approach is right for you. On this page, you’ll find information on types of lung surgeries, how they are performed, questions you can ask your doctor, and how to find a surgeon who performs lung surgery with the da Vinci system.

What are different lung surgeries?

Your doctor may recommend a lobectomy, segmentectomy, or wedge resection which are all surgeries to remove part of the lung.

Diagram showing a lobectomy in lung surgery

Your lungs are divided into sections called lobes. A lobectomy is removal of an entire lobe from either your right or left lung.

Diagram showing a segmentectomy in lung surgery

A segmentectomy is removal of a section of one of the lobes of the lung. This surgery is also known as a segmental resection.

Diagram showing a wedge resection in lung surgery

A wedge resection is removal of a triangle-shaped portion from a lobe of the lung. Your surgeon removes a small amount of tissue surrounding a targeted tumor.

Minimally invasive lobectomy

Surgeons can perform lung surgery through open surgery or a minimally invasive approach. Traditional open surgery (thoracotomy) requires the surgeon to make a long incision between your ribs and then spread your ribs apart so that they can see and work on your lung.

There are two minimally invasive approaches to lung surgery: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or robotic-assisted surgery, possibly with da Vinci technology. Both minimally invasive surgical options require a few small incisions and do not require spreading apart of the ribs. Through the small incisions, doctors insert surgical instruments and a camera for viewing. In video-assisted surgery, doctors use special long-handled tools while viewing magnified images from the videoscope (camera) on a video screen.

Surgeon's hands navigating the system controls

Robotic-assisted lung surgery can be performed using da Vinci technology. The da Vinci system is a tool used for minimally invasive surgery, but it does not treat cancer.

The da Vinci system makes it possible to perform surgery through a few small incisions about the size of your fingertip. With the da Vinci system, your surgeon sits at a console near you in the operating room. The console enables your surgeon to control a camera and the tiny instruments used to perform your surgery.

The system delivers 3D high-definition views, giving your surgeon a crystal-clear view of the surgical area magnified 10 times what the human eye sees. It translates every movement your surgeon makes in real time, bending and rotating instruments that move like a human hand, but with a greater range of motion. Built-in tremor filtration technology helps your surgeon move each instrument with smooth precision.

It’s important to remember that Intuitive does not provide medical advice. After discussing all options with your doctor, only you and your doctor can determine whether surgery with the da Vinci system is appropriate for your situation. You should always ask your surgeon about his or her training, experience, and patient outcomes.

Learn more

Mary Maish

M.D.

When you’re sitting in the robot, you feel like you have control over all of the technology around you.”

Ask your surgeon about their robotic surgery outcomes

Every surgeon's experience is different. Be sure to talk with your surgeon about the surgical outcomes they deliver using the da Vinci system. For example, ask about:

Length of hospital stay
Complication rate
Rate of returning to the hospital within 30 days of surgery
Reoperation rate
Transfusion and/or blood loss
Chance of changing to an open procedure
Length of operation
Mortality rate

There are additional surgical outcomes you may want to talk about with your doctor. Please ask to discuss all important outcomes. Every surgery involves risk and you can read more about those associated with lung surgery.

Questions you can ask your doctor

What medical and surgical options are available for me?
Which is best for my situation?
What are the differences between open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgery?
If I am a candidate for lung surgery, how can I prepare for it?
Can you tell me about your training, experience, and patient outcomes with da Vinci?
How will I feel after surgery?
What does my recovery care plan look like?
How do I help my incisions heal well?

Find a surgeon

Additional resources

Lung surgery brochure

See detail about lung surgery with da Vinci systems in our brochure designed for patients and their families.

Download

Da Vinci system overview

Learn more about da Vinci system technology and more about robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery.

Learn more

What to expect

Explore what happens on the day of surgery with the da Vinci system and tips for planning and preparation.

Learn more

American Lung Association: Minimally invasive thoracic surgery

Read overview information about minimally invasive surgery in an article from the American Lung Association.

Learn more

American Lung Association: Robotic thoracic surgery

Read overview information about robotic-assisted surgery in an article from the American Lung Association.

Learn more

Key Statistics for Lung Cancer. American Cancer Society. Web. 21 June 2022

Disclosures and important safety information

Surgical risks

Risks associated with Pulmonary Resection (removal of part of lung) include: air leaks from lungs, lung infection, lengthy time on a breathing machine of 48 hours or more, abnormal/irregular heartbeat, breathing tube needs to be re-inserted, abnormal path for air between lung airways and pleural cavity (space around the lungs), lung failure lymph fluid collects around lungs, difficulty breathing, remaining part of lung becomes twisted, collapsed lung, abnormal vocal cord function.

Important safety information

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if surgery with a da Vinci system is right for them. Patients and doctors should review all available information on nonsurgical and surgical options and associated risks in order to make an informed decision.

Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including surgery with a da Vinci system, up to and including death. Serious risks include, but are not limited to, injury to tissues and organs and conversion to other surgical techniques which could result in a longer operative time and/or increased complications.

For important safety information, including surgical risks and considerations, please also refer to www.intuitive.com/safety. For a product’s intended use and/or indications for use, risks, full cautions and warnings, please refer to the associated User Manual(s).

Individuals’ outcomes may depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and/or surgeon experience.

Da Vinci Xi/X system precaution statement

The demonstration of safety and effectiveness for the representative specific procedures did not include evaluation of outcomes related to the treatment of cancer (overall survival, disease-free survival, local recurrence) or treatment of the patient’s underlying disease/condition. Device usage in all surgical procedures should be guided by the clinical judgment of an adequately trained surgeon.

Medical advice and locating a doctor

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci surgery is right for them. Other options may be available and appropriate. Only a doctor can determine whether da Vinci surgery is appropriate for a patient’s situation. Patients and doctors should review all available information on both non-surgical and surgical options in order to make an informed decision.

Surgeons who perform surgery using the da Vinci system can be found using the Surgeon Locator. Intuitive Surgical provides surgeons with training on the use of the da Vinci system but does not certify, credential or qualify the surgeons listed in the Surgeon Locator.

Product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical or their respective owners. See www.intuitive.com/trademarks.