Tuberc Respir Dis.  1988 Dec;35(4):246-250. 10.4046/trd.1988.35.4.246.

Thoracoplasty for Intractable Pulmonary Tuberculosis on 80 Cases

• KMID: 2528584
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1988.35.4.246

Abstract

Eighty cases of thoracoplasty were performed among the 3,038 patients registered at Pusan City Branch Clinic of Korean National Tuberculosis Association for two and half years from Jan. 1986 to Jun. 1988. The clinical evaluations were as follows: 1) There were 46 male and 34 female patients whose ages ranging from 23 to 67 and mean ages were 42 in male and 36 in female. 2) Duration of the diseases before operation was extended from 2 through 31 years. 8.45 years was the mean period. 3) The resistance tests for drugs were done in 75 cases. 72% (54 cases) showed resistant for more than 4 drugs and for Isoniazid and Rifampicin, the resistance rate reached to 92% (69 cases). 4) Among the 77 sputum positive cases, 45 cases (58%) were converted to sputum negatives within 3 months after operations, and within 9 months. 69 cases (89.6%) showed sputum negative conversion. 5) Thoracoplasty with apicolysis and Cavernoplasty were performed on 54 cases among the above-mentioned 80 cases, and as a result, we can have the following advantages; to reduce the deformity of the thorax by lessening the numbers of resected ribs, to minimize the collapsing of the normal lung tissues and to be able to collapse the cavitary lesions more completely.