The Use of 1314 Th, a New Antituberculosis Drug, in Thoracic Surgery

¹ Zakopane, Poland

Forty patients with severe forms of fibrocavitary tuberculosis of the lungs or postoperative complications were treated with 1314 Th, their bacilli being resistant to one, two or all three of the major drugs (SM, INH, and PAS). In 25 of them various major surgical operations (resections, plastic operation of the bronchi) were carried out under cover of 1314 Th. Clinical improvement was achieved in all and radiologic improvement in one-half of the cases. Of ten patients who were treated conservatively, nine became sputum negative. Of 25 who were operated 24 did not have postoperative complications. In one, a technically difficult operation was followed by pleural empyema and bornchial fistula. Administration of 1314 Th was not associated with toxic side-effects upon the liver, kidney or hemopoietic system. Gastrointestinal intolerance was not excessive, rarely necessitating interruption of the treatment. Topical applications of the powdered drug or in gelatin suspensions did not lead to improvement, in contrast to the results reported by French authors with this method.