Non-Surgical Lung Procedures: Identifying the Correct Answer

Clarification

The question appears to be from a multiple-choice set asking which procedure is non-surgical. The answer provided — Lobectomy — is incorrect because a lobectomy is a surgical procedure (removal of a lung lobe via thoracotomy or VATS).

Actual Non-Surgical Lung Procedures

• Bronchoscopy: Diagnostic/therapeutic (lavage, biopsy, stent, valve placement) via flexible/rigid scope.
• Thoracentesis: Needle drainage of pleural effusion.
• Pleural catheter (tunneled): Outpatient drainage (PleurX).
• Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS): Mediastinal staging, biopsy.
• Bronchial thermoplasty: For severe asthma (bronchoscope-delivered thermal energy).
• Percutaneous tracheostomy: Bedside, dilatational.

Lobectomy

• Indications: early-stage NSCLC, benign tumors, bronchiectasis, fungal ball.
• Approach: VATS (minimally invasive) or open thoracotomy.
• Requires general anesthesia, OR, chest tube, hospital stay.

If this was a test question, the intended answer was likely bronchoscopy or thoracentesis — confirm with your source.