The Treatment of Tuberculous Empyema

¹ The Department of Research Surgery, the Ohio State University and the Franklin County Tuberculosis Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.

The maintenance of inadequate collapse of the lung definitely increased the incidence of tuberculous empyema in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

When pneumothorax fails to produce adequate collapse, and pneumonolysis and phrenic nerve interruption have been unsuccessful, it should be discontinued at once and surgical collapse instituted.

In simple tuberculous empyemas with adequate collapse of the lung oleothorax appears to be the treatment of choice. In patients with mixed tuberculous empyema and adequate collapse, oleothorax should be instituted after the infection of the pleura has been converted into a pure tuberculous empyema. In patients with inadequate collapse of the lung and tuberculous empyema, surgical collapse is the only procedure which promises good end results.

Irrigation and aspiration alone have been of no apparent value on our experience in treating tuberculous empyema.