Other reasons can arise are a traumatic lung injury, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, a congenital defect, and fungal infections.

[2] The operation will reduce the respiratory capacity of the patient, and before conducting a pneumonectomy, survivability after the removal has to be assessed.

It has been found that forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and diffusion capacity of the lungs (DLCO) provides the best indicator of survival.

This space is full of air initially after surgery, but then it is absorbed, and fluid eventually takes its place.

[10] People have been able to return to near-normal lives, including running marathons after a pneumonectomy, provided there has been adequate cardio-pulmonary conditioning.