FOLLOW-UP STUDY ON 74 CASES OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS WHO HAVE REFUSED THE RECOMMENDED CHEST SURGERY

Lee, Hyo Keun; Ham, Sung Sook; Kim, Hyung Duk

doi:1964.0.18.29

Tuberc Respir Dis > Issue 18; 1964 > Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1964;18:29-31.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1964.18.1.29 Published online December 1, 1964.

FOLLOW-UP STUDY ON 74 CASES OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS WHO HAVE REFUSED THE RECOMMENDED CHEST SURGERY

Hyo Keun Lee, Sung Sook Ham, Hyung Duk Kim

Chest Clinic, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University

Abstract

Since the introduction of specific drugs in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis pulmonary surgery became one of an important therapeutic measures. However, due to lack of understanding, undue fear to the surgery and poor economic situation, a considerable number of patients who were recommended to have certain pulmonary surgery failed to receive it. The purpose of this study is to analyze the follow-up results of those who have failed to receive the recommended pulmonary surgery in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. 1. One to five years follow-up study was carried out on 74 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis who have failed to receive the recommended pulmonary surgery in the course of treatment. 2. All cases continued chemotherapy and 12 cases, or 16.2 percent, became an inactive status without the recommended surgery; another 12 cases became worse and the remaining 50 cases, or 67.6 percent, remained in same status. 3. Improvement to an inactive status without the recommended surgery has been obtained more frequently in the cases who was recommended thoracoplasty, had no cavitary lesions or lesions on the contralateral lung, and negative sputum at the time of surgery recommended. The improvement has also occurred more frequently in the cases who had secondary drugs after the surgery was recommended. 4. Without delaying the recommended surgery higher curative rate, 90.7 percent was obtained. Therefore, it is necessary for physicians to give adequate explanations and stronger recommendations to the patients on surgery.