The Combined Use of Streptomycin and Pneumoperitoneum in the Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

¹ The Medical Service, Fitzsimons General Hospital.

1) This is a series of 57 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in predominately young white males treated at Fitzsimons General Hospital during 1947-1948.

2) Thirty nine far advanced cases and 18 moderately advanced cases were observed, No minimal cases are included in this series.

3) Thirty seven cases were treated with a combined program of streptomycin plus pneumoperitoneum.

4) This group was subdivided into:

(a) Twenty cases treated with streptomycin followed by pneumoperitoneum.

(b) Eight cases treated with pneumoperitoneum followed by streptomycin.

(c) Nine cases treated with streptomycin plus pneumoperitoneum started simultaneously.

5) In group (a) 13 had sputum conversion and 13 had cavity closure. In group (b) 3 had sputum conversion and 2 had cavity closure. In group (c) 8 had sputum conversion and 6 had cavity closure.

6) Twenty cases were treated with pneumoperitoneum alone and are included to demonstrate the type of result to be expected by this treatment.

7) The results seem to indicate that the best treatment for far advanced and moderately advanced cases, not suited for major surgery and in whom pneumothorax is not indicated, is the combined use of streptomycin and pneumoperitoneum as early in the course of the disease as possible.