Collapse Therapy in Bilateral Pulmonary Tuberculosis

¹ Boston, Massachusetts

1) The only hope of arresting disease in the great majority of cases of bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis is by the use of effective collapse therapy.

2) The mortality in these cases if left alone is certainly very high, hence our justification for employing such extensive bilateral collapse therapy.

3) Careful selection of cases by both the phthisiotherapist and the thoracic surgeon is absolutely essential.

4) A satisfactory intrapleural pneumothorax is the treatment of choice. Pneumonolysis when indicated should always be performed.

5) When an intrapleural pneumothorax is unsuccessful a thoracoplasty or an extrapleural pneumothorax should be considered.

6) Basal lesions should be submitted to phrenic nerve surgery.

7) Oleothorax, as a means of collapse therapy, has not been very encouraging.

8) Bilateral collapse therapy is a safe, valuable and effective form of treatment and should be more universally employed.

9) Cases illustrating various combinations of bilateral collapse therapy have been presented.