Abstract
Two cases of re-expansion pulmonary edema following decortication of a tuberculous empyema are presented. The period of compression of the whole lung by empyema was relatively short in both cases. One case showed incomplete expansion of the whole right lung after preoperative drainage, and re-expansion pulmonary edema of the whole right lung after decortication, which was treated by mechanical ventilation and steroid therapy. The other case showed incomplete expansion of the right middle and lower lobes after preoperative drainage, and re-expansion pulmonary edema of the right middle and lower lobe after decortication, which was treated by steroid therapy. In cases of tuberculous empyema with a relatively short course, re-expansion pulmonary edema may occur in a lung incompletely expanded by preoperative drainage.
