[Pleurectomy and decortication in chronic tuberculous pleuritis and pleural empyema]

The study covered 105 patients with chronic tuberculous pleurisy and empyema who had undergone surgery. Reparative pleurectomies with lung decortication were made in all the patients. Four groups of patients operated on in different periods were analyzed. The paper presents clinical, morphological, and instrumental evidence for indications for surgery. The best outcomes were achieved in patients with a 3-4-month history (100% efficiency with recovered ventilation function). The total efficiency of pleurectomy and decortication was 92.4% without fatal outcomes.