The future of thoracoplasty in pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

• (a)

  85· per cent. of 446 patients who had thoracoplasty are satisfactory 1 to 7 years later. Another 4·3 per cent., now lost sight of, were well when last seen.

• (b)

  Such good results are unlikely in the future, if thoracoplasty is to be used mainly in cases unsuitable for resection.

• (c)

  The average age of tuberculous patients is increasing. Chemotherapy is prone to fail in older people and, where long-term chemotherapy has not converted the sputum, thoracoplasty is only moderately successful: it is wrong to expect brilliant results among salvage cases.

These operations were carried out by Mr. M. Hickey, Mr. B. O'Neill, Mr. D. Kneafsey, Mr. H. Wingfield, Mr. K. Shaw.