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Can one survive with one lung: Can you live with one lung? Survival and outlook

by alexxlab

Can you live with one lung? Survival and outlook

It is possible to have only one lung and still function relatively normally.

Although the lungs are vital organs in the body, some conditions can cause a person to lose function in their lungs or need to have one removed.

That said, each person will be different, and there are special considerations in each case, depending on the person’s lung function and any other issues they experience.

Keep reading to learn more.

Share on PinterestA person with one lung can live a relatively normal life.

The lungs are key organs in the human body, responsible for bringing oxygen into the body and helping get rid of waste gases with every exhale.

Though having both lungs is ideal, it is possible to live and function without one lung. Having one lung will still allow a person to live a relatively normal life.

Having one lung might limit a person’s physical abilities, however, such as their ability to exercise. That said, many athletes who lose the use of one lung may still train and be able to continue their sport.

The body adapts to this change in several ways. For instance, the remaining lung will expand a bit to occupy the space left by the missing lung. Over time, the body will also learn to make up for the loss of oxygen.

However, a person will not have full lung capacity, as they did with two lungs, and they will likely need to learn to slow down and adapt to this change.

Although most people expect to be continuously winded or have an inability to function without one lung, this is not usually what happens. The person may have to learn to slow their normal functions down to a degree, but they should be able to lead a relatively normal life with one lung.

Although it is possible to live without a lung, there are a few risks involved.

A study in the Journal of Cancer notes that pneumonectomy, or the surgery to remove one of the lungs, is a high risk surgery that can lead to complications and even death.

Possible complications associated with pneumonectomy include:

  • respiratory failure
  • excessive bleeding and shock
  • abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmia
  • reduced blood flow
  • blood clots in the lung, or pulmonary embolism
  • pneumonia

The anesthetic from the surgery also carries its own risks.

The actual pneumectomy process involves making an incision in the side of the body to remove the affected lung.

The space left after removing the lung will fill with air. During recovery, a person may feel temporary abdominal pain or pressure as this air shifts and assimilates into the body. Over time, the other lung will expand a bit to take up some of this space. The space left will naturally fill with fluid.

After a successful surgery, a person will still take a while to recover. Full recovery without complications may take weeks or even months.

While recovering and even after, the person will need to be aware of their limitations and may have to reduce their activity levels significantly.

Some things may cause a person to feel more winded and could put them at risk of reduced blood flow or fainting. Even everyday activities — such as getting out of bed in the morning, standing up from a prone position, or walking up stairs — may cause the person to feel very winded.

Additional factors will also play into a person’s risk. For instance, their general health before the surgery, their age, and any other health conditions they have may affect their individual risks.

People with a history of smoking or other lung conditions that limit their lung function will need to be extra careful. They may need additional assistance during recovery and should work closely with a doctor to understand their risks.

A number of issues may lead to needing a pneumectomy, including:

  • traumatic injury in the area, such as from a serious vehicle accident
  • tuberculosis
  • fungal infections
  • congenital lung disease
  • complications due to smoking
  • cancer
  • bronchiectasis, which also puts a person at risk of frequent infections

Although infections were a major cause of lung removal in the past, this is now much less common. That said, for severe infections that cause widespread damage or are very difficult to treat, lung removal may still be the best course of action.

For an otherwise healthy person, having a lung removed should not cause them to be severely limited. Each person will have to learn their own limitations in each situation, as no two cases will be exactly the same.

A person with other issues that affect the lungs or make it more difficult to breathe may find living with one lung more challenging.

Complications from lung disease or a history of smoking may make it more likely that the person experiences symptoms such as being easily winded or having difficulty catching their breath.

Even still, individual outlook can vary greatly. Although people should not expect to return to their full lung function after a lung removal, in most cases, they may still be able to operate relatively normally.

A lung removal procedure is typically only one part of a person’s treatment. Their adherence to their other treatment regimens will also affect their overall outlook.

Therapies such as pulmonary rehabilitation are important factors in a person’s recovery and overall lung function. A doctor will also give the person breathing exercises to do at home.

Always work with a doctor during the recovery process to discuss possible therapies, as these therapies can be important steps to recovery.

It is possible to live with one lung. However, a person’s ability to exercise will likely decrease.

Lung removal surgery is a serious procedure that involves removing a part of or the entire lung.

People with underlying conditions affecting their lungs may need to pay more attention to their individual risks.

The surgery itself carries some risk, as does the recovery process. A person’s individual outlook will vary greatly based on a number of factors, but having one lung should not decrease a person’s life expectancy.

Anyone who may need to undergo lung removal will talk to a doctor beforehand to discuss all the possibilities of the surgery and life after the procedure.

Recovery procedures and pulmonary rehabilitation may help strengthen the remaining lung and help people gradually improve their lung function.

Can you live with one lung? Survival and outlook

It is possible to have only one lung and still function relatively normally.

Although the lungs are vital organs in the body, some conditions can cause a person to lose function in their lungs or need to have one removed.

That said, each person will be different, and there are special considerations in each case, depending on the person’s lung function and any other issues they experience.

Keep reading to learn more.

Share on PinterestA person with one lung can live a relatively normal life.

The lungs are key organs in the human body, responsible for bringing oxygen into the body and helping get rid of waste gases with every exhale.

Though having both lungs is ideal, it is possible to live and function without one lung. Having one lung will still allow a person to live a relatively normal life.

Having one lung might limit a person’s physical abilities, however, such as their ability to exercise. That said, many athletes who lose the use of one lung may still train and be able to continue their sport.

The body adapts to this change in several ways. For instance, the remaining lung will expand a bit to occupy the space left by the missing lung. Over time, the body will also learn to make up for the loss of oxygen.

However, a person will not have full lung capacity, as they did with two lungs, and they will likely need to learn to slow down and adapt to this change.

Although most people expect to be continuously winded or have an inability to function without one lung, this is not usually what happens. The person may have to learn to slow their normal functions down to a degree, but they should be able to lead a relatively normal life with one lung.

Although it is possible to live without a lung, there are a few risks involved.

A study in the Journal of Cancer notes that pneumonectomy, or the surgery to remove one of the lungs, is a high risk surgery that can lead to complications and even death.

Possible complications associated with pneumonectomy include:

  • respiratory failure
  • excessive bleeding and shock
  • abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmia
  • reduced blood flow
  • blood clots in the lung, or pulmonary embolism
  • pneumonia

The anesthetic from the surgery also carries its own risks.

The actual pneumectomy process involves making an incision in the side of the body to remove the affected lung.

The space left after removing the lung will fill with air. During recovery, a person may feel temporary abdominal pain or pressure as this air shifts and assimilates into the body. Over time, the other lung will expand a bit to take up some of this space. The space left will naturally fill with fluid.

After a successful surgery, a person will still take a while to recover. Full recovery without complications may take weeks or even months.

While recovering and even after, the person will need to be aware of their limitations and may have to reduce their activity levels significantly.

Some things may cause a person to feel more winded and could put them at risk of reduced blood flow or fainting. Even everyday activities — such as getting out of bed in the morning, standing up from a prone position, or walking up stairs — may cause the person to feel very winded.

Additional factors will also play into a person’s risk. For instance, their general health before the surgery, their age, and any other health conditions they have may affect their individual risks.

People with a history of smoking or other lung conditions that limit their lung function will need to be extra careful. They may need additional assistance during recovery and should work closely with a doctor to understand their risks.

A number of issues may lead to needing a pneumectomy, including:

  • traumatic injury in the area, such as from a serious vehicle accident
  • tuberculosis
  • fungal infections
  • congenital lung disease
  • complications due to smoking
  • cancer
  • bronchiectasis, which also puts a person at risk of frequent infections

Although infections were a major cause of lung removal in the past, this is now much less common. That said, for severe infections that cause widespread damage or are very difficult to treat, lung removal may still be the best course of action.

For an otherwise healthy person, having a lung removed should not cause them to be severely limited. Each person will have to learn their own limitations in each situation, as no two cases will be exactly the same.

A person with other issues that affect the lungs or make it more difficult to breathe may find living with one lung more challenging.

Complications from lung disease or a history of smoking may make it more likely that the person experiences symptoms such as being easily winded or having difficulty catching their breath.

Even still, individual outlook can vary greatly. Although people should not expect to return to their full lung function after a lung removal, in most cases, they may still be able to operate relatively normally.

A lung removal procedure is typically only one part of a person’s treatment. Their adherence to their other treatment regimens will also affect their overall outlook.

Therapies such as pulmonary rehabilitation are important factors in a person’s recovery and overall lung function. A doctor will also give the person breathing exercises to do at home.

Always work with a doctor during the recovery process to discuss possible therapies, as these therapies can be important steps to recovery.

It is possible to live with one lung. However, a person’s ability to exercise will likely decrease.

Lung removal surgery is a serious procedure that involves removing a part of or the entire lung.

People with underlying conditions affecting their lungs may need to pay more attention to their individual risks.

The surgery itself carries some risk, as does the recovery process. A person’s individual outlook will vary greatly based on a number of factors, but having one lung should not decrease a person’s life expectancy.

Anyone who may need to undergo lung removal will talk to a doctor beforehand to discuss all the possibilities of the surgery and life after the procedure.

Recovery procedures and pulmonary rehabilitation may help strengthen the remaining lung and help people gradually improve their lung function.

Is it possible to live a full life without one lung?с

Contents Hide

  1. In what cases should a patient have a lung removed?
  2. How fulfilling is life without one lung?
  3. Rules for rehabilitation after pneumonectomy

The lungs are a vital paired organ located in the chest cavity and providing respiratory function. But sometimes, for example, when a cancerous tumor forms, one lung has to be removed in order to save a person’s life. Patients who have had their right or left lung removed can live full lives without experiencing acute respiratory distress. After the operation, the remaining lung takes over the functions of the remote one, while the level of tidal volume is reduced by only 20-30%.

Is it possible to live with one lung?

When does a patient need to have a lung removed?

An operation that removes one lung is called a pneumonectomy or pulmonectomy. Removal of the lung is a complex surgical intervention, which is performed according to the following indications:

  • malignant neoplasm in the lung with multiple metastases;
  • numerous cysts;
  • widespread tuberculosis;
  • extensive bronchiectasis;
  • chronic purulent processes affecting the right or left lung;
  • profuse pulmonary haemorrhages;
  • chest trauma with lung rupture;
  • various malformations;
  • pathological processes that exclude the possibility of economical resection.

How fulfilling is life without one lung?

People who have undergone radical pneumonectomy are wondering if it will be possible to live a full life, having lost an important, irreplaceable organ? Doctors unanimously declare that life goes on after a successful operation. It is clear that a person will have to adapt to some changes and restrictions, but in general, if medical recommendations are followed and special exercises are performed regularly, respiratory function is fully restored.

Full life without one lung: is it possible?

The remaining healthy lung grows in size, taking up the vacant space in the chest cavity. It takes over part of the function of the lost organ, providing full saturation of tissues with oxygen.

Rehabilitation after pneumonectomy is long, sometimes taking many weeks and months. At first, the patient is significantly limited in his actions, but gradually the functionality expands, the person returns to active life. Prognosis for a full recovery will depend on various factors:

  • age;
  • general state of health and the presence of concomitant diseases;
  • bad habits – smoking, drinking alcohol, etc.

Rules for rehabilitation after pneumonectomy

In order for the patient to return to his former life after radical surgery, it is important to responsibly approach the rehabilitation process. After the operation, the patient is trying to activate as soon as possible. Special physical exercises come to the rescue, which are prescribed from the first days of recovery. Individually composed workouts help a healthy lung to adapt to a new state as quickly as possible and begin to fully perform its functions, taking part of the load of the remote organ.

Pneumoectomy photo

In the early stages of rehabilitation, daily breathing exercises are indicated, as well as exercises to warm up the muscles. This favorably affects the functioning of the remaining lung and the cardiovascular system. After discharge, the patient recovers at home on his own. Rehabilitation at home is carried out with strict observance of the following rules:

  • regularly perform the exercises selected by the doctor, gradually increasing the load;
  • try to move more, walk in the fresh air;
  • stop smoking completely;
  • fix the food.

Medication is prescribed during the rehabilitation period. Drug groups used:

  • Antibiotics:
    • Cefotaxime;
    • Cefazolin;
    • Ceftriaxone et al.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:
    • Ibuprofen;
    • Diclofenac;
    • Nimesil and others
  • Antitussives:
    • Sinekod;
    • Codeine et al.
  • Hemostatic agents:
    • Aminocaproic acid;
    • Vikasol;
    • Dicynon et al.

Restrictions after lung removal

Patients who have undergone radical lung resection may experience difficulty during strenuous exercise, such as:

  • running;
  • brisk walking;
  • lifting weights;
  • games requiring constant movement;
  • dancing;
  • swimming.

As a rule, there are no problems with breathing in ordinary life. To keep the body in good physical shape, as well as training the remaining lung, doctors advise moderate exercise:

  • breathing exercises;
  • daily outdoor walks;
  • cycling;
  • water aerobics.

For the prevention of respiratory failure, it is necessary to permanently get rid of smoking, drinking alcohol and other bad habits. In the absence of postoperative complications, the patient becomes able-bodied after 8-12 months.

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