{"id":134,"date":"2023-09-26T10:59:20","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T14:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?page_id=134"},"modified":"2025-09-19T00:24:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T04:24:36","slug":"pleurectomy-decortication","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/treatment\/surgery\/pleurectomy-decortication\/","title":{"rendered":"Pleurectomy With Decortication for Mesothelioma"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>What Is a Pleurectomy\/Decortication?<\/h2>\n<p>A pleurectomy\/decortication is a two-part surgical procedure used in the treatment of <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/pleural\/\">malignant pleural mesothelioma<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pleurectomy<\/strong> removes part or all of the pleura (the thin membrane surrounding the lungs).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Decortication<\/strong> removes visible mesothelioma tumors from the chest cavity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Pleurectomy with decortication surgery is an effective way to control the spread of pleural mesothelioma while relieving shortness of breath, chest pain, and other symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>Getting a pleurectomy\/decortication for mesothelioma <strong>can increase your life expectancy and improve your quality of life.<\/strong> P\/D also comes with shorter recovery times and fewer side effects than extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), another type of <a href=\"\/treatment\/surgery\/pleural\/\">surgery for pleural mesothelioma<\/a> that completely removes the affected lung.<\/p>\n<p>This surgical approach was pioneered in the 1990s by thoracic surgeon Dr. Robert Cameron as a lung-sparing option for patients with mesothelioma cancer.<\/p>\n<p>Mesothelioma Hope has relationships with highly trained surgeons who can determine if P\/D surgery is an option for you or a loved one.<\/p>\n<div id=\"25223\" class=\"one-off-25223 widget widget_oscar-vque one-off\" data-vqueid=\"25223\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"one-off\">.one-off-25223{margin:60px auto}.one-off-25223 a{box-shadow:0 4px 4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.25);display:block;background:#e4f4f6;padding:20px 25px 200px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;position:relative;overflow:hidden;max-width:360px;margin:0 auto}.one-off-25223 a::before{background:#0FAEBF;border-radius:50% 50% 0 0;content:'';position:absolute;bottom:0;height:19%;width:135%;left:-60px;z-index:0}.one-off-25223 .vque-content,.one-off-25223 .image-wrap{z-index:1;position:relative}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap{width:100%;position:absolute;left:-10px;bottom:-15px}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap img{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;max-width:unset;left:0}.one-off-25223 .heading{font-size:27px;line-height:33px;text-align:center;display:block;max-width:340px;margin:5px auto 25px}.one-off-25223 ul{list-style:none;margin:-10px auto 22px;text-align:left;font-size:16px;line-height:26px}.one-off-25223 ul li{margin:0 0 15px;position:relative;padding-left:35px}.one-off-25223 ul li::before{font-family:\"mesohope\"!important;speak:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;content:\"\\e904\";background:#0FAEBF;width:21px;height:21px;display:block;position:absolute;left:0;top:4px;border-radius:50%;color:#fff;font-size:11px;text-align:center;line-height:21px}.one-off-25223 p{text-align:center}.one-off-25223 .button{padding:12px 16px;display:block}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.one-off-25223 a{max-width:620px;padding:30px 30px 35px;border-radius:0 0 4px 4px}.one-off-25223 a::before{border-radius:50%;height:155%;width:150%;right:-550px;left:unset;bottom:-295px}.one-off-25223 .heading{text-align:left;margin:2px 0 25px;max-width:unset;font-size:24px}.one-off-25223 ul{margin:-7px 0 30px;max-width:365px;line-height:23px}.one-off-25223 ul li::before{top:1px}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap{max-width:unset;position:absolute;right:-25px;bottom:-35px;margin:0 0 -2px;left:unset;width:380px}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap img{position:relative;bottom:0;left:0;width:380px}.one-off-25223 .button{display:inline-block;padding:14px 25px}.one-off-25223 p{text-align:left}}@media screen and (min-width:1150px){.one-off-25223 a{padding:30px}}<\/style><a href=\"\/get-matched\/\" title=\"Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor Ad\"><div>\r\n    <div class=\"vque-content\">\r\n        <strong class=\"heading\">Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor<\/strong>\r\n        <ul>\r\n            <li>Find top specialists near you<\/li>\r\n            <li>Seek compensation for travel & care<\/li>\r\n            <li>Get medical guidance<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul>\r\n        <p><strong class=\"button arrow\" title=\"Get Matched Now\">Get Matched Now<\/strong><\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Doctors-ad.png\" alt=\"Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor\" class=\"lazyload\" ><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Who\u2019s Eligible for a Pleurectomy With Decortication?<\/h2>\n<p>P\/D is generally offered to patients with early-stage pleural mesothelioma (stages 1 and 2). This means their cancer is limited to the chest cavity and hasn\u2019t spread to other areas of the body.<\/p>\n<p>By the third and fourth <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/stages\/\">stages of mesothelioma<\/a>, tumors may have spread too far to be effectively removed through P\/D surgery.<\/p>\n<p>According to Baylor College of Medicine, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/treatment\/surgery\/epp-vs-pd\/\">P\/D is commonly preferred to EPP<\/a>, especially for patients who can\u2019t undergo total mesothelioma lung removal.<\/p>\n<p>Pleural mesothelioma patients must be in good overall health to undergo a P\/D so their body can fully recover. Doctors will usually order blood work, pulmonary function tests (lung function tests), and an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) to determine if a patient is healthy enough for a P\/D.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"pleurectomy\">What Is Pleurectomy Surgery?<\/h2>\n<p>Pleurectomy surgery is the first part of a mesothelioma pleurectomy with decortication. This is when the surgeon removes the lining of the lungs, called the pleura.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-20683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Pleurectomy-w-decortication-scaled-1-1024x504.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration showing the lung lining being removed in a pleurectomy\" width=\"671\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Pleurectomy-w-decortication-scaled-1-1024x504.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Pleurectomy-w-decortication-scaled-1-300x148.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Pleurectomy-w-decortication-scaled-1-768x378.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Pleurectomy-w-decortication-scaled-1-1536x756.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Pleurectomy-w-decortication-scaled-1-2048x1008.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 671px) 100vw, 671px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>During the pleurectomy procedure:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A surgeon places the patient on their side and makes an S-shaped incision (cut) along the patient\u2019s back.<\/li>\n<li>The surgeon removes part or all the pleura, depending on the extent of the cancer.<\/li>\n<li>The surgeon may also remove parts of the chest wall lining, heart lining (pericardium), diaphragm, or lymph nodes if they find tumors in these areas. This is known as an <strong>extended pleurectomy with decortication (EPD)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The surgeon may also need to remove the patient\u2019s sixth rib in order to access the entire pleural space. Once the pleura and any other cancerous tissues have been carefully removed, the decortication procedure can begin.<\/p>\n<div class=\"blockquote-w-image \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Robert-B-Cameron-MD-300x300-1.png\" alt=\"\" \/><blockquote><p>&#8220;Instead of removing the lung, you carefully separate the tumor from the healthy lung.&#8221;<\/p>\n<footer>&ndash;<cite> Dr. Robert Cameron, mesothelioma specialist &amp; creator of P\/D surgery<\/cite><\/footer><\/blockquote><style type=\"text\/css\">.blockquote-w-image{position:relative;margin:40px auto}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{background:none;border-left:none;padding:25px;margin-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote p{margin-bottom:0}.blockquote-w-image img{width:100px;border:none;border-radius:100%;box-shadow:none;position:relative;margin:0 auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative{margin:60px auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding:25px 25px 25px 80px;padding-bottom:25px;background-color:#E4F4F6}.blockquote-w-image.alternative img{position:absolute;left:20px;top:25px;z-index:1;width:50px;border:1px solid #fff;box-shadow:0 0 10px rgba(34,34,34,0.2);border-radius:100%}.blockquote-w-image.with-border{background:none;border-left:4px solid #0FAEBF}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote{background:none;border-radius:0;padding:10px 25px}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote:before{display:none}@media screen and (min-width: 769px){.blockquote-w-image img{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{padding:0 25px 0 125px;min-height:90px}}@media screen and (min-width: 1024px){.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding-left:105px}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote footer cite{font-size:16px}.entry-content .blockquote-w-image.alternative img{width:60px;left:25px}}<\/style><\/div>\n<h2>What Is Decortication of the Lung?<\/h2>\n<p>Decortication is the second part of a pleurectomy\/decortication for mesothelioma. During this surgery, visible tumors are removed from the surface of the lung and the rest of the chest to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.<\/p>\n<p><strong>During the decortication procedure:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>The surgeon uses a scalpel to remove visible tumor growth in the chest cavity.<\/li>\n<li>Specialists then pack the area with hot gauze and sponge packs to limit blood loss.<\/li>\n<li>Once the bleeding has slowed, the surgeon uses sutures (stitches) to close the incision.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Doctors will schedule follow-up appointments after the surgery to see how the patient is recovering and see if there have been any complications.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>P\/D With HITHOC<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Similar to EPP, P\/D surgery is often paired with <a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/hithoc\/\">hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITHOC)<\/a>. A heated chemotherapy solution is administered to the chest cavity right after the operation to kill any remaining cancer cells before the patient\u2019s incision is closed.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"recovery\">Pleurectomy\/Decortication Recovery Time<\/h2>\n<p>Total recovery time from a P\/D is usually 4-6 weeks if part of the pleura is removed, and 6-8 weeks if the entire pleura is removed.<\/p>\n<p>After surgery, patients will be put on a respirator to help them breathe. When the patient can breathe on their own, chest tubes are fitted to help inflate their lungs and drain any fluid buildup (<a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/pleural\/effusion\/\">pleural effusion<\/a>). Most patients spend 7-10 days in the hospital before being discharged.<\/p>\n<p>Caregivers may need to monitor their loved one once they\u2019re back home to make sure they\u2019re comfortable and recovering well. During this time, the patient\u2019s doctor may recommend at-home breathing exercises to improve lung function.<\/p>\n<p>If you or a loved one is exploring <a href=\"\/treatment\/\">treatment options<\/a> for pleural mesothelioma, our <strong>F<\/strong>r<strong>ee Doctor Checklist<\/strong> can help you prepare for your next appointment.<\/p>\n<div data-vqueid=\"18575\" class=\"widget widget_oscar-vque outline image-left has-img\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"outline\">.widget_oscar-vque.outline{margin:60px auto;max-width:315px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline:first-child{margin-top:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a{border:1px solid #E6E7EC;padding:20px;box-shadow:0 20px 20px rgba(34,34,34,0.03);border-radius:10px;color:#383441;display:block;text-decoration:none}.widget_oscar-vque.outline img{margin:0 auto 20px;max-width:180px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline .vque-content{color:#383441;font-size:16px;text-align:center}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.subheading{color:#100134;display:block;line-height:1;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:5px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.heading{color:#100134;font-size:20px;display:block;margin:0 0 20px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul{font-size:16px;text-align:left;list-style:none;max-width:265px;margin:15px auto 25px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li{padding-left:28px;margin-bottom:10px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li:before{font-family:\"mesohope\" !important;font-display:swap;speak:none;color:#fff;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;content:\"\\e904\";border:none;position:absolute;left:0;top:3px;background:#0FAEBF;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:20px;line-height:20px;text-align:center;font-size:12px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.button.arrow{width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a{position:relative;border-radius:0 10px 10px 0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a:before{content:\" \";position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;width:4px;height:100%;left:0;background:linear-gradient(180deg, #0FAEBF 0%, #fff 100%)}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.widget_oscar-vque.outline{max-width:620px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline img{max-width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a{padding:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a>div{display:block;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:flex-end;flex-direction:row-reverse}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a>div>div{width:41%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a .vque-content{width:59%;padding:30px;text-align:left}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.subheading{font-size:16px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.heading{font-size:24px;margin:0 0 13px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul{max-width:none}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.button.arrow{width:auto}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div{display:block;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div{float:left}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div:first-child{width:27%;padding:30px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div.vque-content{width:73%;padding-left:0;color:#383441}}<\/style><a href=\"\/doctor-questions\/\" title=\"Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor Ad\" data-desktop-image=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/questions-to-ask-doctor-ipad.png\"><div><div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"95\" height=\"144\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/questions-to-ask-doctor-ipad.png\" class=\"attachment-Medium size-Medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"14 Questions to Ask Your Doctor packet\" \/><\/div><div class=\"vque-content\"><strong class=\"heading\">Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor<\/strong><ul>\n<li>Preparing for treatment<\/li>\n<li>Finding clinical trials<\/li>\n<li>Getting a second opinion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong class=\"button yellow arrow\" title=\"Get Your Free Download\">Get Your Free Download<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"success\">What Is the Success Rate of Pleurectomy and Decortication?<\/h2>\n<p>A pleurectomy\/decortication has shown to double the life expectancy of patients with pleural mesothelioma.<\/p>\n<p>Specifically, patients who receive a mesothelioma pleurectomy with decortication live for 34 months on average, almost twice as long as the average <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/prognosis\/life-expectancy\/\">life expectancy<\/a> of pleural mesothelioma.<\/p>\n<p>P\/D surgery also has a positive impact on <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/prognosis\/survival-rate\/\">survival rates<\/a> (the percentage of people who survive mesothelioma for a specific amount of time). According to a report in the <em>Journal of Thoracic Disease<\/em>,<strong> 60.9% of patients are still alive 2 years after the procedure, and 29.2% live at least 5 years.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, the MARS 2 clinical trial found that <a href=\"\/blog\/mars2-trial-chemotherapy-vs-surgery-pleural-mesothelioma\/\">extended P\/D surgery was less effective than chemotherapy<\/a> and resulted in more complications, according to a June 2024 report in <em>The Lancet Respiratory Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"side-effects\">Pleurectomy\/Decortication Side Effects<\/h2>\n<p>Potential side effects of P\/D mesothelioma surgery include:<\/p>\n\n<ul class='columns-2'>\n<li>Air leaks (when small pockets of air escape the lungs)<\/li>\n<li>Internal bleeding or blood clots<\/li>\n<li>Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)<\/li>\n<li>Lung or heart failure<\/li>\n<li>Pneumonia and other infections<\/li>\n<li>Reactions to general anesthesia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Patients should discuss all potential side effects with their <a href=\"\/treatment\/doctors\/\">mesothelioma doctor<\/a> before deciding to undergo a pleurectomy with decortication.<\/p>\n<h2>Find Doctors for Pleurectomy\/Decortication Surgery<\/h2>\n<p>If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with early-stage pleural mesothelioma, a pleurectomy with decortication can be an effective procedure to help you live longer and breathe more easily.<\/p>\n<p>Mesothelioma Hope can help you explore your treatment options and connect you with doctors who are experienced in pleurectomy\/decortication surgery.<\/p>\n<p>Call us now at <strong><a href=\"tel:+18666088933\" title=\"Click to call (866) 608-8933\" class=\"in-content-tel-link\" data-ce-category=\"Click to Call\" data-ce-label=\"(866) 608-8933\">(866) 608-8933<\/a><\/strong> or use our <a href=\"\/get-matched\/\">Free Doctor Match<\/a> to find pleural mesothelioma specialists in your area.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer-shortcode\"><style type=\"text\/css\">.disclaimer-shortcode{font-size:14px;margin:30px 0}.disclaimer-shortcode>strong{display:block;margin:0 0 5px}.disclaimer-shortcode p{font-style:italic}<\/style><strong>Disclaimer<\/strong> <p>Mesothelioma Hope has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Dr. Robert Cameron. Any contact information listed is for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Dr. Robert Cameron directly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-wrap\"><h2 class=\"faq-wrap-heading\">Mesothelioma Pleurectomy With Decortication FAQs<\/h2><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"1\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">What is pleurectomy decortication?<\/h3><div><p>A pleurectomy with decortication, also called P\/D, is when a surgeon removes cancerous tumors from the surface of the lung and the rest of the chest.<\/p>\n<p>This surgical technique was developed by Dr. Robert Cameron in the 1990s. P\/D surgery can help patients with pleural mesothelioma extend their life expectancy.<\/p>\n<p>It also has palliative (symptom-relieving) benefits for patients with excess fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"2\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">Is decortication the same as pleurectomy?<\/h3><div><p><strong>No<\/strong>, decortication and pleurectomy are not the same thing. However, they&#8217;re often done together in pleurectomy\/decortication (P\/D), a surgical procedure\u00a0for pleural mesothelioma. A pleurectomy is the removal of the pleura, which is the thin layer of tissue lining the chest and covering the lungs. This is done to remove as much of the cancer as possible when it has spread across that lining.<\/p>\n<p>Decortication, on the other hand, is the removal of a thick, stiff layer of tissue that can form on the surface of the lung, making it hard to breathe. This scar-like layer can develop when cancer causes the lung to become trapped. By removing both the diseased pleura and this restrictive layer, the goal of P\/D surgery is to improve breathing, relieve symptoms, and help slow the spread of mesothelioma while preserving as much lung function as possible.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"3\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">Is a pleurectomy major surgery?<\/h3><div><p><strong>Yes,<\/strong> a pleurectomy is major surgery. You\u2019ll receive general anesthesia before the procedure and spend about 7-10 days in the hospital afterward being monitored by your health care team.<\/p>\n<p>Despite a pleurectomy being an invasive surgical treatment, it\u2019s been shown to <strong>extend overall survival, improve lung function, and offer a better quality of life<\/strong> for patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"4\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">How long does a pleurectomy take?<\/h3><div><p>The pleurectomy portion of pleurectomy\/decortication surgery takes <strong>roughly 1-2 hours.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Exactly how long it\u2019ll take in your case depends on whether the surgeon needs to take out parts of the chest wall lining or diaphragm along with the pleura (lung lining), or if any postoperative complications occur.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"What is pleurectomy decortication?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;A pleurectomy with decortication, also called P\/D, is when a surgeon removes cancerous tumors from the surface of the lung and the rest of the chest.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;This surgical technique was developed by Dr. Robert Cameron in the 1990s. P\/D surgery can help patients with pleural mesothelioma extend their life expectancy.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;It also has palliative (symptom-relieving) benefits for patients with excess fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}},{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"Is decortication the same as pleurectomy?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;No&lt;\/strong&gt;, decortication and pleurectomy are not the same thing. However, they&amp;#8217;re often done together in pleurectomy\/decortication (P\/D), a surgical procedure\u00a0for pleural mesothelioma. A pleurectomy is the removal of the pleura, which is the thin layer of tissue lining the chest and covering the lungs. This is done to remove as much of the cancer as possible when it has spread across that lining.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Decortication, on the other hand, is the removal of a thick, stiff layer of tissue that can form on the surface of the lung, making it hard to breathe. This scar-like layer can develop when cancer causes the lung to become trapped. By removing both the diseased pleura and this restrictive layer, the goal of P\/D surgery is to improve breathing, relieve symptoms, and help slow the spread of mesothelioma while preserving as much lung function as possible.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}},{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"Is a pleurectomy major surgery?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Yes,&lt;\/strong&gt; a pleurectomy is major surgery. You\u2019ll receive general anesthesia before the procedure and spend about 7-10 days in the hospital afterward being monitored by your health care team.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Despite a pleurectomy being an invasive surgical treatment, it\u2019s been shown to &lt;strong&gt;extend overall survival, improve lung function, and offer a better quality of life&lt;\/strong&gt; for patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}},{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"How long does a pleurectomy take?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;The pleurectomy portion of pleurectomy\/decortication surgery takes &lt;strong&gt;roughly 1-2 hours.&lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Exactly how long it\u2019ll take in your case depends on whether the surgeon needs to take out parts of the chest wall lining or diaphragm along with the pleura (lung lining), or if any postoperative complications occur.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}}]}<\/script><style type=\"text\/css\">.faq-wrap{background:#E4F4F6;padding:20px 15px;margin:40px -15px}.faq-wrap:first-child{margin-top:0}.faq-wrap:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.faq-wrap .faq{background:#fff;padding:15px;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0px 20px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.03);margin:15px 0 0 0}.faq-wrap .faq:first-child{margin-top:0}.faq-wrap .faq .faq-heading{color:#100134;font-size:21px;margin-bottom:15px}.faq-wrap .faq p{margin-bottom:20px;line-height:1.5}.faq-wrap .faq p:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.faq-wrap .faq .learn-more{color:#248AFF;display:block;padding-right:17px;text-align:right;position:relative;line-height:1}.faq-wrap .faq .learn-more:visited{color:#248AFF}.faq-wrap .faq .learn-more:visited:hover,.faq-wrap .faq .learn-more:hover{color:#34d}.faq-wrap .faq .learn-more:after{font-family:\"mesohope\" !important;speak:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;content:\"\\e905\";position:absolute;right:0;top:3px}h2.faq-wrap-heading{margin-bottom:25px}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.faq-wrap{padding:25px 15px}}@media screen and (min-width: 1024px){.faq-wrap{border-radius:10px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:25px}.faq-wrap .faq{padding:25px}.faq-heading{font-size:24px}}<\/style><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Is a Pleurectomy\/Decortication? A pleurectomy\/decortication is a two-part surgical procedure used in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pleurectomy removes part or all of the pleura (the thin membrane surrounding the lungs). Decortication removes visible mesothelioma tumors from the chest cavity. Pleurectomy with decortication surgery is an effective way to control the spread of&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":1486,"parent":130,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-134","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/130"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}