Results of surgical treatment for calcified tuberculous empyema: improved pulmonary function obtained with lung preserving policy.

We treated thirteen cases of calcified tuberculous empyema during the nine years from 1984 to 1992. Six patients having mild symptoms were categorized as Type I, and the remaining seven with severe symptoms as Type II. The patients of Type I were all successfully treated by complete empyemectomy with or without lung resection. All the patients of Type II suffered from major symptoms and were burdened by larger empyema cavities with formation of bronchial fistulas. Five of the latter were successfully treated, but two died, one from MRSA infection and another from intestinal necrosis following omentopexy. Our guide lines for the treatment of tuberculous empyema are: Lung resection must be minimal. Type I patients could be managed by simple empyemectomy with or without minor thoracoplasty. Open thoracostomy prior to the empyemectomy is not necessary. If the patient who belongs to Type II is aged and in a critical state, open thoracostomy must be taken as the first choice. Omentopexy is reliable, but it should be restricted to selected cases. Reasonable dead space and minor air leakage may safely be left behind if the cavity is surrounded by noninfected raw surface of the chest wall and diaphragm. Better quality of life was revealed by exercise test with improved oxygen consumption, compared to the preoperative state.