title: Current role of surgery in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
abstract: From January 1986 through December 1993, we operated on 59 patients with documented Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Indications for operation were as follows: multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) in 19 patients; bronchopleural fistula secondary to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in 12; massive hemoptysis in 5; destroyed lung in 7; solitary nodule in 7; trapped lung in 3; complicated cavity in 4; and empyema in 2. Sixty-five operative procedures were performed: pneumonectomy with latissimus muscle flap in 15 patients; pneumonectomy in 3; lobectomy in 16; segmental or wedge resection in 11; decortication in 5; window thoracostomy in 3; thoracoplasty with myoplasty in 4; tube thoracostomy in 4; return to operating room for bleeding in 2; Clagett procedure in 1; and drainage of a cold abscess in 1. There were no operative deaths. Major postoperative complications occurred in 5 patients. The two late deaths were in patients with MDRTB: 1 with progressive disease and massive hemoptysis and the other with a relapse of MDRTB. Of the patients operated on as part of their therapeutic regimen for MDRTB, 17 (89%) of 19 have remained culture negative. We conclude that (1) surgery still plays an important role in the management of patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection; (2) surgical intervention can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity; (3) a variety of procedures are needed to effect cure; and (4) encouraging results in patients with MDRTB support surgical therapy in this difficult group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Texas Center for Infectious Disease, San Antonio State Chest Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Treasure
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Seaworth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013905:Thoracoplasty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*