Basal Metabolism in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Patients Under Collapse Therapy

¹ The Pulmonary Physiology Laboratory, Halloran Veterans Administration Hospital, Staten Island, New York, and Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Montefiore Hospital, New York, New York.

Basal metabolism studies were done in 145 patients under various forms of collapse therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis. A normal rate (between -10 per cent and +10 per cent) was found in 82 patients (56.6 per cent). The rate was subnormal in 55 patients (37.9 per cent). It was above normal in 8 patients (5.5 per cent).

Of 55 patients with artificial pneumothorax, the rate was normal in 27 (49.2 per cent). It was diminished in 25 (45.4 per cent). It was increased in three (5.4 per cent).

Of 17 patients with pneumoperitoneum, the rate was normal in 13 (76.6 per cent). It was diminished in 4 (23.4 per cent).

Of 65 patients with thoracoplasty, the rate was normal in 39 (60.0 per cent). It was diminished in 21 (32.3 per cent). It was increased in 5 (7.7 per cent).

Of five patients with phrenic nerve crush, the basal metabolism was normal in one and diminished in four.

Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under collapse therapy show a more pronounced tendency to a subnormal basal metabolic rate than those without collapse therapy.