Abstract
In order to clarity the results of pneumonectomy in Japan and to find out how to improve the results, the co-operative follow-up studies were carried out on the 550 cases who received pneumonectomy during 3 year period from 1961 to 1963, and were followed-up at least 8 months post-operatively in 50 sanatoria and hospitals belonging to the Tuberculosis Research Committee (Ryoken).
The rate of success (the rate of the persons who were working with negative sputum after operation among all cases) was 75%, and the post-operative mortality rate excluding the cases who died from non-tuberculous disease later than two months after operation was 7%. The factors reducing the rate of success were low pulmonary function and preoperative posit ive sputum. The result was the worst when both these factors coexisted together in a person. Therefore, in order to improve the result of pneumonectomy, efforts must be made to convert sputum negative before operation.
Moreover, as the po s t -operative deaths were most frequently caused by bleeding or pulmonary dysfunction, it is desired to keep patients under good management during and after operation.
