Bronchial Tuberculosis

Abstract

Recently pulmonary tuberculosis is less common. However in such cases, surgery is often the only alternative to treat peripheral atelectasis caused by obstruction or stenosis of the bronchial tree. Untill now nine such cases of bronchial stenosis or obstruction have been operated in our institute. All cases were female aged 20-65 (36.8±14.8) y.o. The highest incidence was seen in the left main bronchus (6 of 9, 67%). When atelectasis caused by bronchial stenosis or obstruction had continued for more than 5 months, re-expansion of that lobe was difficult to obtain. If the period were 2 months or less, re-expansion was successful. Only 4 cases were operated by bronchoplasty method, one of which one later developed re-stenosis. The reason might have been the short period of pre-operative medication of antituberculosis agents.