Lung removal surgery (lobectomy)
An operation to remove a lobe of the lung (or sometimes a smaller or larger part), most often to remove a lung cancer or other diseased tissue.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- A lobectomy removes one lobe of the lung and is the most common operation for early-stage lung cancer; smaller (segmentectomy) or larger (pneumonectomy) resections are used when needed.
- Surgery aims to remove all the tumour with a clear margin, but it is part of a wider plan and cannot guarantee a cancer is cured.
- This is major surgery: most people stay in hospital around 5–10 days and full recovery takes many weeks to a few months.
- Lung function, fitness and other health problems strongly affect both suitability and risk, so a careful pre-operative assessment matters.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your surgeon will give you advice for your situation.
Can remove a lung cancer completely when it is caught early enough
Your lung function or fitness is too low to tolerate losing that much lung tissue.
You recover in a high-dependency or ward setting with chest drains, oxygen and strong pain relief. Physiotherapists help you sit up, breathe deeply and...
Early physiotherapy with breathing exercises and supported walking from day one.
You recover in a high-dependency or ward setting with chest drains, oxygen and strong pain relief...
Drains are removed once any air leak and fluid settle. You build up walking, and the team checks your breathing...
Most people go home around day 5–10. Expect tiredness, breathlessness on exertion and wound discomfort. Keep up...
Stamina improves week by week. Many people stop strong painkillers and gradually increase activity, avoiding heavy...
What is a lung resection (lobectomy)?
A lung resection is an operation to remove part of a lung. A lobectomy removes one of the lobes (the lungs have five lobes in total — three on the right, two on the left). It is the most common operation for early-stage lung cancer, and is also used for some infections, benign growths and damaged lung tissue.
The amount removed depends on the problem and on how much healthy lung you can safely lose. A segmentectomy removes a smaller anatomical segment, a bilobectomy removes two lobes on the right, and a pneumonectomy removes a whole lung. A sleeve resection removes a lobe plus a section of airway and rejoins the ends, sometimes avoiding the need to take the whole lung.
For cancer, the aim is to remove all of the tumour with a clear margin of healthy tissue around it, and usually to sample or remove nearby lymph glands to help staging. Surgery is one part of treatment: a multidisciplinary team (MDT) decides whether surgery, radiotherapy, drug treatment or a combination is most appropriate, and surgery cannot guarantee that a cancer will not come back.
This operation can be done as open surgery (a thoracotomy) or by keyhole (VATS) — see the separate keyhole lung surgery guide.
Types & techniques
There isn't one single operation. The right approach depends on you — which is something to discuss with your surgeon.
How much lung is removed
| Operation | What is removed | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Segmentectomy | A segment of a lobe | Small or early peripheral tumour, or limited lung reserve |
| Lobectomy | One whole lobe | Most early-stage lung cancers |
| Pneumonectomy | A whole lung | Central or extensive tumour |
More tissue removed generally means a bigger effect on breathing and a higher risk. Your team balances clearing the cancer against preserving lung function.
Preparing for your surgery
- Have your case discussed by a lung cancer MDT, and ask why this operation (and this amount of lung) is being recommended.
- Expect tests of your heart and lung function (such as breathing tests and sometimes an exercise test) to check you can tolerate surgery.
- Ask about a risk score (for example Thoracoscore) so you understand your personal risk before you consent.
- Stop smoking as early as possible before surgery — it lowers the risk of breathing and wound problems.
- Tell the team about all medicines and supplements, especially blood thinners, and ask which to pause and when.
- Build up gentle fitness and, if offered, take part in prehabilitation and physiotherapy before the operation.
- Arrange help at home and time off work, as recovery takes weeks rather than days.
What happens
The operation is done under general anaesthetic. The anaesthetist usually uses a special breathing tube so the lung being operated on can be deflated while the other lung keeps you oxygenated.
The surgeon reaches the lung either through small keyhole cuts (VATS) or an open cut between the ribs (thoracotomy), removes the diseased part, and usually samples or removes nearby lymph glands. The tissue is sent to the laboratory for analysis.
One or more chest drains are placed to remove air and fluid and help the remaining lung re-expand. You wake up in a recovery area or high-dependency unit. Good pain relief, early sitting up and breathing exercises with a physiotherapist are an important part of the first day or two.
Is this operation right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- Your lung function or fitness is too low to tolerate losing that much lung tissue.
- The cancer has spread beyond what surgery can remove, so another treatment is more appropriate.
- Significant heart disease or other illness makes the anaesthetic and operation too risky.
- A recent heart attack (surgery is generally avoided within 30 days).
- The diagnosis or stage is not yet clear and more tests are needed first.
Delay surgery if…
- You have an active chest infection or are unwell.
- Staging or lung-function results are incomplete.
- You are still smoking and could benefit from stopping and prehabilitation first.
- Blood-thinning or other medicines need adjusting before surgery.
- Your heart rhythm or other conditions are unstable and need optimising.
Alternatives to discuss
- Stereotactic radiotherapy (SABR) for some early cancers in people not fit for, or not wanting, surgery.
- A smaller resection (segmentectomy) instead of a lobectomy where appropriate.
- Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or a combination, decided by the MDT.
- Active monitoring of very small or low-risk nodules in selected cases.
- Best supportive care if surgery would do more harm than good.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Anaesthetic choices
The safest option depends on the operation, your health, the facility and your surgeon/anaesthetist. Ask what is planned and why.
Benefits
- Can remove a lung cancer completely when it is caught early enough
- Provides tissue for the laboratory to confirm the diagnosis and stage
- Removing nearby lymph glands helps decide whether further treatment is needed
- Can relieve symptoms or remove damaged, infected or benign lung tissue
- For suitable early cancers, surgery offers one of the best chances of long-term control
Risks & complications
- Pain at the wound or drain sites, which can last weeks and occasionally longer
- Tiredness and breathlessness on exertion for several weeks
- Air leak from the lung, meaning the chest drain stays in longer
- An abnormal heart rhythm such as atrial fibrillation in the days after surgery
- Chest infection or pneumonia needing antibiotics
- Fluid collecting around the lung needing drainage
- Wound infection or slow healing
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Major bleeding needing a return to theatre or transfusion
- A leak where an airway has been joined (after sleeve resection)
- Serious breathing failure needing intensive care
- Death — uncommon, but higher with larger resections such as pneumonectomy
Your personal risk depends heavily on how much lung is removed, your lung function, your heart and your other health problems — for example, people with COPD or poor lung reserve are at higher risk. Ask your surgeon for your own estimated risk (a global risk score such as Thoracoscore can help), and ask how your breathing is likely to feel afterwards.
Published figures to discuss
Outcomes vary widely with the operation performed, how much lung is removed, the approach, and a person's lung function, heart and other health problems. The figures below are cautious, UK-relevant ranges; your own risk should be estimated individually, ideally with a recognised risk score.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death in hospital after lung resection | Below about 2% overall in recent UK practice, but higher for pneumonectomy (around 5%) and lower for small (wedge) resections (under 1%) | Strongly dependent on how much lung is removed and on fitness; the UK National Lung Cancer Audit reports in-hospital mortality falling below 2% in recent years. | RCP — Lung cancer surgery survival (National Lung Cancer Audit)rcp.ac.ukPublished figure |
| Survival at 90 days after lung cancer surgery | Around 96% in UK audit data | Reported by the National Lung Cancer Audit; 90-day mortality is roughly double 30-day mortality, so the longer window matters. | RCP — Lung cancer surgery survival (National Lung Cancer Audit)rcp.ac.ukPublished figure |
| Atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) after lobectomy | Around 10–20% | The most common medical complication after lung surgery; usually treatable but can prolong the hospital stay. | RCP — Lung cancer surgery survival (National Lung Cancer Audit)rcp.ac.ukPublished figure |
| Prolonged air leak | Reported in roughly 5–15% of lobectomies depending on definition and patient factors | Means the chest drain stays in longer; more common with poor-quality or emphysematous lung. | RCP — Lung cancer surgery survival (National Lung Cancer Audit)rcp.ac.ukPublished figure |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
Recovery — what to expect, and when
Recovery from a lung resection is gradual. Most people are up and walking within a day or two, home within about 5–10 days, and back to most activities over several weeks, but feeling fully back to normal can take two to three months or longer.
- Feeling very tired for several weeks, sometimes months
- Breathlessness when climbing stairs or getting dressed that eases with rest
- Discomfort, numbness or tingling around the wound and drain sites
- A drop in stamina that slowly improves with gentle activity
- A cough or the feeling of needing to clear the chest in the early weeks
Aftercare
- Keep taking pain relief as advised so you can breathe deeply, cough and walk.
- Do your breathing exercises and build up walking a little more each day.
- Keep wound and drain sites clean and dry, and follow advice on showering.
- Avoid heavy lifting, straining and driving until your team says it is safe.
- Do not smoke, and ask for stop-smoking support if you need it.
- Watch for chest infection, increasing breathlessness or wound problems and report them.
- Go to your follow-up appointments and any scans, and ask what the pathology showed.
- Pain relief plan understood and medicines collected
- Breathing-exercise and walking plan from the physiotherapist
- Help at home arranged for the first week or two
- Time off work booked (often several weeks)
- Lift home and no-driving period understood
- Clinic and out-of-hours contact numbers saved
- Follow-up appointment and pathology discussion arranged
Scars and how they heal
Open surgery (thoracotomy) leaves a curved scar on the side or back of the chest between the ribs, which fades over months but can stay firm or numb. Keyhole (VATS) surgery leaves a few small scars plus a slightly larger one where tissue is removed. Drain sites leave small additional marks. Numbness or altered sensation near scars is common and may be long-lasting.
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- Worsening breathlessness or you cannot catch your breath
- Chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or feeling faint
- Fever, increasing cough, or green or bloody phlegm (possible infection)
- Coughing up blood
- A red, hot, swollen or painful calf, or sudden breathlessness (possible clot)
- Spreading redness, swelling or discharge from a wound
- A wound that opens, or air leaking or bubbling from a drain site
Who to contact: your surgeon or clinic first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A good result means the tumour or diseased tissue is removed, ideally with a clear margin of healthy tissue around it. The final picture comes from the laboratory analysis and the MDT discussion afterwards, which confirm the type and stage and whether any further treatment (such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy) is advised.
Surgery removes what is visible and reachable, but it cannot prove that no cancer cells remain anywhere in the body, which is why follow-up and sometimes additional treatment are important. Your team will explain what your specific results mean for you.
For early-stage lung cancer removed completely, surgery offers one of the best chances of long-term control, but outcomes depend heavily on the cancer type, stage and your general health. Cancer can still come back or appear elsewhere, so you will usually be followed up with clinic reviews and scans for several years. Your lung function settles at a new baseline after part of a lung is removed.
Combining with other procedures
Lung resection is often combined with removal of lymph glands for staging at the same operation. Depending on the pathology, the MDT may recommend chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy before or after surgery. These decisions are made by the team, not by surgery alone.
Follow-up & long-term care
You will usually be reviewed after surgery to check healing, discuss the pathology results and agree any further treatment. Ongoing follow-up for cancer typically includes clinic appointments and scans over several years. Report new or worsening breathlessness, chest pain, weight loss or coughing up blood between appointments.
- Keep up regular gentle activity and the breathing exercises you were taught
- Stay smoke-free and accept stop-smoking support if you need it
- Attend all follow-up scans and clinic appointments
- Keep vaccinations such as flu and pneumococcal up to date if advised
- Report new chest symptoms promptly rather than waiting
Revision and secondary surgery reality
- A small number of people need a return to theatre for bleeding or a persistent air leak.
- An air leak that does not settle may need a longer drain, suction or, rarely, further surgery.
- If the planned keyhole approach is not safe, the surgeon may need to convert to open surgery during the operation.
- Further treatment after surgery (such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy) is decided by the MDT based on the pathology, not by the surgery alone.
Ask your surgeon for their own revision rate, what counts as a revision, and what is included in the written aftercare policy.
What good aftercare looks like
- Early physiotherapy with breathing exercises and supported walking from day one.
- A clear, written pain-relief plan so you can breathe deeply and cough.
- A named contact and out-of-hours route for breathlessness, infection or wound problems.
- A planned discussion of the pathology results and any further treatment with the MDT.
- Structured cancer follow-up with clinic reviews and scans over several years where relevant.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- The operation needed (segmentectomy, lobectomy or pneumonectomy) and its complexity
- Whether it is done by keyhole (VATS) or open surgery
- Surgeon and anaesthetist fees
- Theatre time, high-dependency or intensive-care needs and length of stay
- Pre-operative tests such as lung function, exercise testing and staging scans
- Laboratory analysis of the tissue and lymph glands
- Follow-up appointments, scans and any further treatment under a separate plan
- Surgeon and anaesthetist fees
- Theatre, ward and any high-dependency or intensive-care costs
- Length-of-stay assumptions and what happens if you stay longer
- Pre-operative tests and staging scans included or extra
- Laboratory (histology) reporting
- Follow-up appointments and scans
- What is covered if a complication, longer stay or further surgery is needed
On the NHS? Lung resection is routinely available on the NHS when clinically indicated and agreed by a multidisciplinary team; private care may be used for speed, choice of surgeon or a second opinion, not because it is unavailable on the NHS.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- No clear explanation of how much lung will be removed and how breathing may be affected.
- Surgery discussed without the MDT decision, staging or alternatives such as SABR radiotherapy.
- No personal risk estimate given before consent, despite recognised risk scores.
- Cancer surgery described as a guaranteed cure rather than part of a plan with follow-up.
- No plan discussed for common problems such as air leak, atrial fibrillation or conversion to open surgery.
Marketing red flags
- Claims that keyhole surgery is suitable for every tumour or carries no real risk.
- Promises of cure for lung cancer.
- Downplaying the recovery as quick or minor when it is major surgery.
- No mention of the MDT, staging, margins or possible further treatment.
- Pressure to book quickly without full staging and fitness assessment.
Choosing a surgeon safely
- Check your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they practise at a CQC-registered location, and look for membership of bodies like BAAPS or BAPRAS.
- You're entitled to a two-stage consent process with time to reflect (a cooling-off period). The surgeon who will operate must consent you — not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers, discounts or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.
- Why this operation and this amount of lung, and what did the MDT recommend?
- What is my personal risk, including any risk score, given my lung and heart function?
- Can this be done by keyhole (VATS), and what would make open surgery safer for me?
- How breathless am I likely to be afterwards, and will it improve?
- What will the pathology tell us, and might I need treatment after surgery?
- What is the plan if there is an air leak or another complication?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the surgeon who carries out my operation, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this operation not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Can I live normally with part of a lung removed?
Is this available on the NHS?
How long will I be in hospital?
Will surgery cure my cancer?
Open or keyhole — which is better?
How long until I can drive and work?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: NHS — Lung cancer treatment Cancer Research UK — Types of lung cancer surgery Cancer Research UK — After lung cancer surgery NICE NG122 — Lung cancer: diagnosis and management RCP — Lung cancer surgery survival (National Lung Cancer Audit) Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (SCTS)
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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