[Surgery of late complications of previous active treatment of lung tuberculosis with extrapleural plombage].

Between January 1984 and February 1997 10 patients with late complications of a former active collapse therapy were operated. In case of our patients between 1943 and 1960 the collaps therapy was carried out with the extrapleural instillation of plombs for therapy of pulmonary tuberculosis. At present main complications were infections of plombs with pleurobronchial and pleurocutaneus fistulas and perforation of plombs. By all patients both extirpation and pleurectomy were necessary. In case of 5 patients additionally lung resection was required, in case of 3 patients a thoracoplasty and by 1 patient a myoplasty. Although there are considerable destructions of lung parenchym in a part the results of long-term follow up are satisfactory: 6 patients are so far without complaints; only 1 patient died 10 years postoperative. Prerequisite for a successful therapy are the knowledge of the surgical methods of the collaps area, the used materials, the pathomorphological pulmonary changes and the good cooperation between pneumologists and thoracic surgeons.