A heart attack can occur as a complication of lobectomy. During stressful events, such as surgery, your heart needs more blood and oxygen than normal to work at its best.

 

When the heart doesn't get enough oxygen, it can be damaged. Sometimes this lack of oxygen happens for just a short time. This is called "ischemia." However, if an area of the heart goes too long without enough oxygen, that section of heart muscle can die. This is what happens during a heart attack. Depending on how serious the damage is, a heart attack may result in the loss of life.