Thoracentesis Video
Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, scientists have developed various methods of treatment to help reduce the suffering associated with illness, surgery is the most common method used. Mesothelioma Specialists may recommend surgery to remove the main tumor and nearby tissue mesothelioma taken up by cells cancer. However, if mesothelioma is in its advanced stage, after surgery, mesothelioma can be difficult, because the tumor is likely to have spread to other areas.
For such cases, surgeons can remove excess fluid around the chest or abdominal area to relieve pain. Before undergoing the surgery of mesothelioma and other alternative methods of treatment, patients should discuss all potential risks or adverse side effects that may occur with mesothelioma specialist before making a decision. Mesothelioma is a surgery is usually combined with chemotherapy or radiation. For this combination, the mesothelioma tumor is reduced or eliminated and tumor growth is controlled or stopped.
Surgery for pleural mesothelioma patients
There different types of practices that surgeons use surgical mesothelioma based on the type of mesothelioma cancer. These include:
- Pleurectomy or decortication Surgery involves the removal of lung infection and its surroundings. This leads to a reduction in tumor size, combined with a reduction of pain due to lower pressure in the chest cavity. It also controls the fluid buildup. The treatment is considered palliative (reduces pain. But it is not a cure). When combined with radiation and chemotherapy, this form of treatment of mesothelioma has been shown to increase life expectancy of the patient. Another advantage to this type of mesothelioma, surgery is that it has a low mortality rate compared with more invasive surgery such as extrapleural pneumoectomy mesothelioma. This surgery is not possible if tumor growth is extensive in the pleural space.
- Pneumonectomy Surgery involves removing the entire lung. This type of surgery is used when the cancer is in its advanced stages, in order to relieve pain.
- Thoracentesis Surgery is to drain excess fluid from the lungs to the of a needle. This facilitates the breathing problems and relax the pressure on the lungs.
- Extrapleural Pneumonectomy Surgery is an advanced type of surgery and complicated procedure performed during the early stages of mesothelioma. This is the total elimination of linings surrounding the lungs, coatings from around the heart and diaphragm to prevent the spread of mesothelioma. This type of surgical procedure allows the removal of vast quantities of cells tumor.
Mesothelioma Post-Surgery usually involves radiation and chemotherapy to prevent further spread of the disease. This type mesothelioma surgery slows the progression of mesothelioma and improves quality of life in some patients. Patients have a median survival time of 35 months compared with a survival time of 9 months for those treated with palliative or pain-reducing treatment.
Surgical Practices used for other types of mesothelioma
Pericardial Mesothelioma
For pericardial mesothelioma, mesothelioma surgeons using similar processes as the extraction tissue to relieve pain and discomfort. However, this does not cure the disease completely. Mesothelioma Surgery is usually the last resort for patients and this process is expensive and not covered by most insurance companies.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma surgery is usually not possible for everyone. If all that is possible, then patients undergo surgery to remove peritonectomy the peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen). Recently, doctors have introduced a new technique of surgery called "debulking surgery 'for treatment of this disease. In this technique, to make six different types of procedures peritonectomy to extract the maximum amount of tumor. After surgery after administering chemotherapy directly into the peritoneal cavity.
Some doctors also administer a type of chemotherapy that is heated a few degrees above body temperature, called intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIIC). This has proved very effective resulting in a survival rate of approximately 5 years. However, this process is still in clinical trial.
Thoracospic Surgery
Mesothelioma Surgeons also use a video-assisted surgical technique known as "thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for mesothelioma diagnosis. In this regard, several biopsies of the pleural lining, nodules, masses, and pleural fluid was performed through a minimally invasive procedure, along with other therapies such as pleurodesis for pleural effusions. Several small ports or incisions are made through the chest wall in a small camera is introduced along with specific tools to take samples of tissue. With the help of a video screen shows images captured by the camera allows surgeons to perform all necessary formalities. This procedure is a more viable option compared with a thoracotomy, an incision that is more large to reach the chest cavity.
Thoracentesis to remove 1200cc of Plural Fluid at Harborview
