Which procedure involves the surgical removal of an entire lung?

The procedure that involves the surgical removal of an entire lung is known as pneumonectomy. This procedure is typically indicated in cases of lung cancer, severe pulmonary infections, or other serious lung conditions where the affected lung is beyond repair. During a pneumonectomy, surgeons carefully remove one lung, which may require meticulous attention to the anatomical structures in the chest cavity and adjacent organs to prevent complications.

In contrast, a lobectomy involves the removal of just a lobe of the lung, which is a smaller and less extensive procedure than a pneumonectomy. Thoracoplasty refers to the surgical procedure aimed at reshaping the chest wall, often after previous lung surgery or infection, and does not involve lung removal at all. Decortication of the lung is the removal of a fibrous coating or pleural thickening around the lung, often performed in the context of conditions like empyema, but it also does not involve the complete removal of lung tissue.

Thus, the unique focus of pneumonectomy on the total excision of an entire lung distinguishes it from the other options presented.