What Will Happen on the Day of a Pneumonectomy?
On the day of a
pneumonectomy, at your scheduled time, you may be taken to a pre-operative room or directly to the operating room. Your privacy will be maintained at all times, and the staff will make every effort to keep you warm and comfortable. If you feel anxious or scared, as many patients do, you can ask for medication to help you relax.
To prepare you for surgery, patches will be put on the skin of your chest, arms, or legs for an electrocardiogram (EKG). An EKG shows the electrical activity of your heart.
Your healthcare providers will place a number of tubes and lines in different parts of your body for use during and after your surgery. Exactly where and when these tubes and lines are placed will vary, but you should expect many of them to be put in before the pneumonectomy begins.
You will also be given an intravenous fluid line, or IV, through which you will be given medications and fluids during the surgery. You will also receive antibiotics to minimize the chance for infections. A second IV, called an arterial line, may be put in one of your arteries. This usually goes in your right wrist, and it helps check your heart rate and
blood pressure. A third IV may be put in a vein in your neck or upper chest.
