Etymed
pleurectomy
Definition
Surgical removal of the pleura (the membrane covering the lungs and chest cavity)
Clinical context
A 65-year-old smoker presents with malignant pleural effusion and recurrent pneumothoraces. CT scan reveals extensive pleural thickening and nodular lesions. The patient undergoes video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with pleurectomy to remove the diseased pleural lining and prevent further fluid accumulation. Postoperatively, the patient's respiratory function improves significantly with reduced chest pain and better lung expansion.
Mnemonic
PLEURA = Pleural membrane removal, 'Pleurectomy' sounds like 'pleura' + 'ectomy' (removal)