Primary pulmonary resection for tuberculosis; medical and economic aspects in a small sanatorium

Twenty-eight patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in a small, tax-supported sanatorium were treated by primary pulmonary resection. In a comparison of results with those obtained in the same sanatorium by thoracoplasty and extrapleural pneumothorax, it was noted that in general the patients who had resection had earlier conversion of sputum to "negative" and had a shorter stay in hospital. Complications were not of sufficient frequency to contraindicate use of resection in cases in which there was doubt that thoracoplasty would be effective. The cost of hospitalization for surgical treatment and postoperative care was considerably less when resection was done than it was for either three-stage or two-stage thoracoplasty.