About Your Surgery
​Jump to your surgery:​
Your Appointments
Preoperative Appointment
You will be scheduled for this appointment before your surgery. You will receive more information about your surgery at this appointment. Your surgery may be cancelled or delayed if you miss this appointment.
A clerk from the Preoperative Department will call you with the date and time of this appointment.
​
​You need to bring a list of the medications you take to this appointment. This includes all prescription, over the counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Surgery Appointment
A clerk from the surgeon’s office will call you with the date and time of your surgery.​​
Follow-Up Appointment
Your follow-up appointment is scheduled for 2 to 4 weeks after your surgery. Call your surgeon’s office to schedule a follow up appointment if you did not receive it before leaving the hospital. Make this call the day after you leave the hospital. The surgeon explains the results of your surgery and the plan for the next steps in your care at this appointment.
Your Surgery
2
Getting to the Surgical Suite
-
Enter the north entrance of Lakeridge Health Oshawa (on Hospital Court). Walk past the Gift Shop and Food Court.
-
Take the escalator or elevator up to the 2nd floor and turn right into the hallway.
-
Go to the Surgical Registration Desk to register for your appointment.
3
Your Care Team
-
Thoracic Surgeon
-
Registered Nurse/ Registered Practical Nurse
-
Social Worker
-
Registered Dietitian
Lobectomy or Bilobectomy Surgery
Your Lobectomy or Bilobectomy Surgery
Your Thoracic Surgeon has scheduled you for a lobectomy or bilobectomy. This page offers information to help you prepare for your surgery. It is important you and your family member/care partner review the information on this page.
You need a lobectomy or bilobectomy because you have a mass or tumour in 1 or 2 lobes of your lung. A pathologist will test all tissue removed during surgery. A pathologist is a doctor who examines body tissues and fluids for changes caused by disease.
What is a Lobectomy/Bilobectomy?
Your right lung has 3 lobes and your left lung has 2 lobes. A lobectomy is the removal of 1 lobe (or part) of your lung. A bilobectomy is the removal of 2 lobes of your lung on the same side.
What your lungs look like:
Different Lobectomy/Bilobectomy Techniques
A
Thoracotomy
This is also called open lung surgery. The surgeon makes a large incision (cut) between 2 of your ribs to open your chest cavity. This allows the surgeon to see and reach your lungs.
B
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (also known as VATS)
This surgery is done using a thoracoscope. A thoracoscope is a long thin tube with a small video camera at the end. This allows the surgeon to remove your lung tissue using special instruments inserted through a few small incisions.
Robotic-Assisted Lobectomy
C
The robotic system includes a camera arm and mechanical arms with surgical instruments attached. The surgeon sits in front of a computer near the operating table and has complete control over the camera and mechanical arms at all times. The computer provides the surgeon a clear, magnified, and 3-dimensional view inside your lungs. The mechanical arms move like the human arm and hand. This allows the surgeon to remove lung tissue through a few incisions in your chest.
If your mass or tumour is cancer, surgery may be the only treatment needed to manage your cancer. You may also need to have radiation and/or systemic therapy treatments. You will receive information about this if it applies to you. Deciding what treatments are right for you depends on:
-
The cell type of your cancer
-
The stage of your cancer
-
Your age and overall health
-
Your goals of care
Wedge Resection or Segmentectomy Surgery
Your Wedge Resection or Segmentectomy Surgery
Your Thoracic Surgeon has scheduled you for a wedge resection or segmentectomy. This page offers information to help you prepare for your surgery. It is important you and your family member/care partner review the information on this page.
You need to have a wedge resection or segmentectomy because you have a mass or tumour in your lung. A pathologist will test all tissue removed during surgery. A pathologist is a doctor who examines body tissues and fluids for changes caused by disease.
What is a Wedge Resection/Segmentectomy?
Your right lung has 3 lobes and your left lung has 2 lobes. A wedge resection is the removal of a small wedge-shaped section (a pie shaped piece) in 1 of the lobes of your lung. A segmentectomy is the removal of a larger section (larger than a wedge) in 1 of the lobes of your lung.
What your lungs look like:
Different Wedge Resection / Segmentectomy Techniques
A
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (also known as VATS)
This surgery is done using a thoracoscope. A thoracoscope is a long thin tube with a small video camera at the end. This
allows the surgeon to remove your lung tissue using special instruments inserted through several small incisions. Your surgeon will decide how many incisions you need. Most people require 3 to 4 small incisions.
Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
B
The robotic system includes a camera arm and mechanical arms with surgical instruments attached. The surgeon sits in front of a computer near the operating room table and has complete control over the camera and mechanical arms. The computer provides the surgeon a clear, magnified, and 3-dimensional view inside your lungs. The mechanical arms move like the human arm and hand. This allows the surgeon to remove lung tissue through several small incisions. Your surgeon will decide how many incisions you need. Most people require 5 small incisions.
If your mass or tumour is cancer, surgery may be the only treatment needed to manage your cancer. You may also need to have radiation and/or systemic therapy treatments. You will receive information about this if it applies to you. Deciding what treatments are right for you depends on:
-
The cell type of your cancer
-
The stage of your cancer
-
Your age and overall health
-
Your goals of care