What would happen to a person if both lungs were removed?

The removal of both lungs, known as a bilateral pneumonectomy, is a very rare and extremely critical procedure in medicine, and it generally results in the person's death. Here's what happens to a person when both lungs are removed:

1. Anoxia: With the lungs removed, the person will experience acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This is because the lungs play the crucial role of facilitating the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Without lungs, there is no way to transport oxygen into the bloodstream or remove carbon dioxide from the blood. Within minutes of lung removal, the person will experience severe anoxia, where the body's tissues are deprived of oxygen. This leads to damage and malfunction in multiple organ systems.

2. Respiratory Failure: The cessation of gas exchange causes respiratory failure. There is no way for oxygen to enter or leave the circulatory system, leading to hypoxia (low blood oxygen levels) and hypercapnia (high blood carbon dioxide levels). The person will quickly lose consciousness and die unless artificial respiratory support is initiated immediately.

3. Heart Failure: The increased pressure in pulmonary circulation caused by the absence of lungs can lead to a condition known as pulmonary hypertension. This places excessive strain on the right side of the heart (right atrium and ventricle), causing it to enlarge and weaken over time. Consequently, the heart will be unable to effectively pump blood from the right side to the lungs and eventually leads to right-sided heart failure.

4. Brain Damage: The brain is highly sensitive to low oxygen levels and relies on a continuous supply of oxygen for proper functioning. With the removal of lungs, the oxygen deprivation to the brain can cause rapid and severe neurological damage. Cells and tissues in the brain start to die within minutes of complete oxygen deprivation, leading to cerebral hypoxia, which is irreversible.

5. Multi-organ Failure: The compromised circulation and oxygen deprivation due to the lack of lungs eventually affect all the organs and systems in the body. This leads to a cascade of events, causing the failure of multiple organs, including the heart, kidneys, liver, brain, and other vital systems.

It's important to note that the complete surgical removal of both lungs is a highly improbable scenario in medical practice. This procedure is generally performed in cases of extreme and advanced lung diseases, where the lungs are non-functional and life-sustaining measures, such as mechanical ventilation or organ transplantation, are the only options for survival.