From the Research
Yes, it is normal to experience midline abdominal tenderness after a right lower lobe (RLL) lobectomy, as the surgical procedure can cause irritation to the diaphragm, which separates the chest from the abdomen, referring pain to the abdominal area 1.
Factors Contributing to Abdominal Tenderness
- Positioning during surgery
- Manipulation of tissues
- Use of surgical instruments
Management of Abdominal Tenderness
Pain medications such as acetaminophen (500-1000mg every 6 hours) or NSAIDs like ibuprofen (400-600mg every 6-8 hours) can help manage this discomfort if approved by your surgeon.
Monitoring for Complications
However, if the tenderness is severe, worsening over time, accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, or changes in bowel habits, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately as these could indicate complications such as infection or ileus 2.
Expected Outcome
Most abdominal tenderness should gradually improve within the first week after surgery as your body heals from the procedure. A recent study comparing outcomes among open lobectomy, video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy, and robotic lobectomy found that minimally invasive approaches can reduce 30-day mortality, pulmonary, and overall complications with equivalent oncologic outcomes and 5-year overall survival 1.