title: Modern morbidity following pulmonary resection for postprimary tuberculosis.
abstract: Between January 1991 and March 1996, a total of 28 patients with postprimary tuberculosis underwent resection for disease progression (n = 8), multidrug resistance or noncompliance to the medical treatment (n = 11), parenchymal sequelae (n = 3), suspected cancer (n = 5), and for the correction of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula and empyema (n = 1). On admission, eight patients presented with sputum positivity (28.6%). Similar to previous series, tubercular predilection for upper lobes was confirmed (21/28, 75%); accordingly, upper lobectomy through an extrapleural approach was the most common procedure (16/28, 57.1%). Atypical segmental resections or segmentectomies were performed in seven patients (25%), whereas a bilobectomy was necessary in another three patients (10.7%) and a completion pneumonectomy in one (3.6%). Additional procedures were an open-window thoracostomy with transpericardial closure of the main bronchus and a tailored thoracoplasty. No operative mortality was reported. Healing was achieved in 26 patients (93%). Bleeding, either from the chest wall or hilar dissection, was the only reported intraoperative complication. Median blood loss, inclusive of early postoperative collections from chest tubes, reached 1330 ml (range 100-3700 ml). Major postoperative complications included recurrent disease (2/28, 7%) in sputum-positive patients and segmental pulmonary embolism (3.5%). Causes of minor morbidity were air leaks resulting in residual space undergoing spontaneous resolution (18%), wound breakdown (14%), and, fever (11%). This limited series confirms the therapeutic value of the surgical treatment of postprimary tuberculosis, provided that correct indications, adequate pre- and post-operative medical coverage, and meticulous technique are applied.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, E. Morelli Regional Hospital, Sondalo (Sondrio), Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rocco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robustellini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Della Pona
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vertemati
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D015996:Survival Rate; D013905:Thoracoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*