The average five-year survival rate for NSCLC is 24%. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in the United States and around the world. There are two main types of lung cancers, namely, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC accounts for 85% of all lung cancer...
A carcinoid tumor is a rare cancer of the neuroendocrine system (a system of the nerve cells that also produces hormones in the body). The tumor grows in the following organs such as the appendix, bowels, lungs, and more. The survival rate for a carcinoid tumor depends on the stage of the tumor at the...
What is breath sound assessment? Breath sound assessment is a standardized way doctors listen to the sound your lungs make. This helps them diagnose various lung problems. Clinical evaluation of breath sounds is the first and most common method of assessing lung health. The stethoscope placed on the back and chest lets the physician listen...
What is decortication? Decortication is a surgical procedure that removes the restrictive layer of fibrous tissue overlying an organ. It is mostly performed to remove the fibrous layer over the lung, chest wall, and diaphragm. Pleura is a thin membrane that lines the outer surface of the lungs (visceral pleura) and the inner surface of the...
What is a bullectomy? Bullectomy is the surgical removal of a bulla. Bulla or bullae is a pathological condition of the lungs caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Bulla of the lung develops when emphysema (COPD) damages the lungs to an extent that air pockets start developing. These air pockets increase in size and...
What is aerosol therapy? Aerosol medications can be delivered directly to the bloodstream through the lungs without the complications of and IV such as pain and injection site infection. This technique is used mostly for dosing medication for lung conditions like asthma, but it may be beneficial for other therapies as well. Aerosol therapy is...
What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a slowly progressive disease that causes symptoms such as breathlessness and cough. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of diseases with the chief symptom of breathlessness and cough. COPD is a slowly progressive disease and affects approximately 32 million Americans....
What are video laryngoscopy and fiberoptic-assisted tracheal intubation? Video laryngoscopy allows for the larynx to be seen with a fiberoptic or digital laryngoscope inserted through the nose or mouth. Fiberoptic intubation inserts an ET tube over the shaft of a flexible fiberoptic scope for visualization. Tracheal intubation, also called intubation, involves placing a flexible plastic tube...
The four types of lung cancer are based on the cell types and location, as well as how they look under a microscope. Lung cancer is classified into four types, depending on how the cancer cells look under the microscope. Small Cell Lung Cancer (Oat cell lung cancer): This cancer often starts in the bronchi...
What is a bronchoplasty? Bronchoplasty is used for various benign and malignant pulmonary lesions. Bronchoplasty is a reconstruction or repair of the bronchus to restore its function. During inhalation, air travels through the nose and/or mouth into the trachea (windpipe). The trachea further divides into two tubes called bronchus (bronchi). The bronchi branch out into...