Hexylresorcinol Solution in the Treatment of Tuberculous Empyema

¹ Chicago, Illinois

Tuberculous empyema is a relatively common complication of artificial and spontaneous pneumothorax. Its increased incidence is directly related to the increased use of artificial pneumothorax in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Trauma to pleural adhesions encountered in about 80 per cent of pneumothorax cases is probably the important cause of the pleural effusions which subsequently become purulent. The beneficial effects of hexylresorcinol solution, 1:1000 in a small series of cases, furnishes the basis for this report. Treatment consisted of simple aspiration of the purulent exudate, irrigation with the solution, followed by instillation of from 20 to 200 cc. depending upon the size of the empyema cavity. Clinical results apparently indicate that this solution can be regarded as a valuable addition to those recommended for the local treatment of tuberculous empyema.