Continuous Immobilization of the Lungs by Residence in the Equalizing Pressure Chamber in the Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

¹ The Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and the Presbyterian Hospital, New York City.

The results of 11 previously treated cases of bilateral advanced or moderately advanced pulmonary tuberculosis have been reviewed and a case history of a patient recently treated has been presented.

Of the 12 cases, 6 obtained a clinical recovery, including the recent case with a short follow-up period of observation.

In one patient three courses of approximately three and one-half to four months each were given, in three other cases, 2 courses of treatment were given and in the remaining 8 cases a single course of therapy was employed.

The provision of local lung rest by residence in the immobilizing pressure chamber promotes the process of healing and closure of cavity in some cases of advanced and moderately advanced pulmonary tuberculosis. This favorable response has been observed in cases for whom no other form of treatment was possible or who had been exposed to other types of tuberculosis therapy without benefit. In comparable groups of cases under the same medical management and in the same hospital, treated either with residence in an oxygen chamber or in a filtered air room, no such therapeutic benefit was observed.