Abstract

ABSTRACTA critical retrospective analysis of 14 cases of bilateral staged pulmonary resections for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is described. Lobectomies with or without segmentectomies were the preferred procedures. The four positive cases had mostly cavitary disease (85%) with positive bacteriologic culture from the specimens (75%). The ten negative cases had less cavitary disease (65%) with negative bacteriologic culture of the specimens (90%). Positive residual bacteriologic specimen activity (10%) of the negative group favors the surgical removal of residual disease, despite the fact that 45% have no culture or bacterial stain obtained. Negative residual bacteriologic specimen activity (25%) of the positive group indicates the limitations of inadequate surgery. Thus the indications of surgery may gradually reestablish their own criteria in this era of massive chemotherapy.