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Cystic Fibrosis
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Surgery may be needed to treat complications of cystic fibrosis. Procedures may include:
- Chest tube drainage and possible thoracoscopy, to treat a collapsed lung (pneumothorax).
- Lung transplant
, for
people who have severe lung disease. - Repair of an intestine that has collapsed inside itself or removal of a bowel obstruction.
- Removal of nasal polyps or endoscopic sinus surgery.
- Abdominal or perineal (anal) surgery for
rectal prolapse , in rare cases.
If your child is not able to get all the nutrients he or she needs from food, a feeding tube may be necessary.
People who need frequent intravenous (IV) antibiotics can have a semipermanent tube placed in the vein so that they do not need to have repeated placements of an IV needle.
Surgery Choices
What To Think About
Lung transplant surgery is generally recommended only for people who have severe lung damage, because the risks can be greater than the benefits. If you are a candidate for lung transplant, you may have to wait a long time for donor lungs (6 months to more than 4 years). Guidelines from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) strive to shorten the wait time for donor lungs.
For more information on transplants, see the topic Organ Transplant.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: September 16, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Susanna McColley, MD - Pediatric Pulmonology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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