[Treatment of pulmonary gangrene]

Seven cases of pulmonary gangrene are reported. The conservative therapy would somewhat improve the general patient's condition, but the destructive process in the lung proceeded. One patient was subjected to thoracotomy, in 6 subjects due to the extensive lesion pneumonectomy was performed. Postoperatively, pleural empyema developed in all patients, the former was eliminated by punctures and lavage of the pleural cavity during 2 months. One patient died after pneumonectomy, the remaining 5 patients radically operated upon were discharged with a completely liquidated suppurative process. It is the author's opinion that pneumonectomy seems to be a perspective and radical method of treatment for gangrene. Pneumotomy should be accomplished only in extremely grave cases.