Lower Left Lobectomy for Bronchiectatsis good new report!

[Schmu]

Hi from Chicago everybody,

A couple weeks ago I asked many forums for members to share thier lobectomy with bronchiectasis experiences and I did not get a lot of responses. So I thought I'd share mine so others would have some info in the future. (There are a lot of details so feel free to skip to the end of the post.)

I had a lower left lobectomy 8 days ago and today is my first full day home. I am on lots of drugs: a nerve deadening pill, a heart regulating drug, and various other pain pills. At this point, I can walk, shower, lay down comfortably and take care of myself.

I had my lobe of my lung removed because I had focal bronchiectasis in that lobe. It was basically collapsed for 4 years. It served as a vessel for bacteria. The docs believe that most of my exacerbations were caused by that lobe so it had to go! They didn't believe I would lose lung function if I had the lobectomy because it was already collapsed. I think the docs were right because when I take a breath now my lungs feel better, softer while breathing with no part of the breath being forced. Its hard to describe.

I had my surgery done at a great teaching and research hospital in Chicago. I put off this surgery for a long time for many reasons. I choose to do it now because I had been on many combos of antibiotics and they were barely helping. Also, more importantly, a new surgeon came to Chicago last year, and she had the experience to successfully do the surgery. I could have travelled to Denver to have the surgery but that's about 1600km away and it would have been incredibly disruptive to my family.

So the surgery lasted about 4 hours. They did a bronch first and then did a VATS lobectomy. There were 4 incisions (3 little ones and one 1.5 inch one).

The bigger incision was to cut a piece of the muscle between my ribs to serve as a piece of tissue to close the stump of the bronchial tube. The muscle stays attached to its original spot so it can get blood, etc.

I had 2 chest tubes placed for drainage, one big one and a little one. (I hated the tubes they hurt, one of them had to be hooked to suction unless I was walking, and I contiually knocked over cups of water becuase I had so many things coming off of me! Taking them out was no big deal though.)

My recovery was long because I had a complication. I had a leak in my good lobe and the leaking air was ending up under my skin. This is called subcutaneous emphysema. I had to wait in the hospital until the leak healed itself.

I really think the surgery has been successful.

I prepped for this operation as much as possible. I exercised. Really. A lot. This allowed me to be able to walk every day in the hospital. My legs felt strong even when my torso was weak and sore. I got up to walking 3 miles a day on day 4 and 5 post-op. This helps to reduce pneumonia and keeps your strength up! Walking in the hospital is really boring and weird. You just walk the halls over and over, you do end up making new friends though.

I am happy I did the operation. I am grateful to the surgeons who really cared! I am grateful to this forum becuase it has helped me have perspective and support (and a laugh)! If you are ever considering this operation feel free to reach out. Its a weird surgery to have in 2019 but I think it worked for me.

Have a good day,

Sarah

[RoadRunner44]

Hello Sarah, Gosh what an experience for you. Most certainly you will have inspired confidence in the forum members should they have to have something similar done in the future. I have bronchiectasis too, but obviously nowhere near as bad as yourself. How long have you had bronchiectasis? How long did it take to get to where you are now?

I sincerely hope your life continues to improve. Please keep in touch as to how you get along. Best wishes, Chrys from South Wales, UK.

[skischool]

Congratulations on your recent LVRS,i was initially surprised you found it so hard to find a thoracic surgeon to do the surgery but as soon as you mentioned the VATS procedure i began to understand as not many thoracic surgeons specialise in that procedure because basically it is a lot more difficult to do than a standard lobectomy hatchet job which is far more brutal and invasive.

Unfortunately a good many of us with widespread emphysema and very low gas exchange rates do not have the reserve capacity to safely withstand the procedure,but like yourself i would highly recommend it to others that do.

Wishing you the very best for a successful rehabilitation and a far better quality of life than you had before.

Ski's and Scruff's x

[Caspiana]

Thank you for sharing Sarah. I hope you continue to reap the benefits of your surgery. Best wishes to you. xx 👋

[Izb1]

Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your procedure. I have bronchiectasis but mild. I dont think many people on this site with bronchiectasis have had this procedure and could explain why you didnt have many replies. Looks like it has been a good decision for you and I wish you all the best x

[Bella395]

That’s great news - thank you for sharing it. OH started with bronchiectasis in the left lower lobe and years ago one of the doctors mentioned this surgery but it didn’t go any further. He has recently had pneumonia and several infections afterwards - there is consolidation and a small pleural effusion in that part of the lung. It had crossed my mind that perhaps if he had undergone the surgery that area would not have been a focus for infection. BTW his bronchiectasis was classed as mild but his condition belied the classification.

Wishing you well for the future.