A person has damage involving a single bronchopulmonary segment . The surgeon may remove the 1 ) entire lung at the hilus 2 ) lobe containing the damage 3 ) bronchopulmonary segment containing the damage 4 ) trachea and its related blood and lymphatic supply
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: 3) Bronchopulmonary segment containing the damage
Explanation (Approx. 300 words):
The lungs are divided into anatomical and functional units called bronchopulmonary segments. Each bronchopulmonary segment is a subdivision of a lung lobe and is supplied by its own segmental (tertiary) bronchus and a branch of the pulmonary artery, while venous drainage occurs through intersegmental veins. Importantly, these segments are separated by connective tissue septa, which makes them relatively independent and surgically resectable units.
When damage or disease, such as localized infection, tuberculosis, or tumor, is confined to a single bronchopulmonary segment, the surgeon has the option of performing a segmentectomy—the removal of just that specific segment. This approach is less invasive and preserves more healthy lung tissue compared to removing an entire lobe or lung, allowing for better postoperative respiratory function.
Let’s examine why the other options are less suitable:
- Entire lung at the hilus – This is a pneumonectomy, a major procedure involving removal of an entire lung. It’s generally reserved for extensive disease (like widespread cancer or trauma) and would be excessive for damage limited to a single segment.
- Lobe containing the damage – A lobectomy removes an entire lobe. While more conservative than a pneumonectomy, it’s still more extensive than necessary for damage isolated to one segment.
- Trachea and its related blood and lymphatic supply – This option is not anatomically or clinically appropriate for treating a single bronchopulmonary segment. The trachea is a central airway structure and unrelated to the surgical resection of peripheral lung segments.
In conclusion, the ability to remove a single bronchopulmonary segment makes it possible to treat localized disease effectively while preserving as much functional lung tissue as possible. Therefore, option 3 is the most precise and appropriate surgical intervention in this scenario.