Pulmonary resection for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: the Israeli experience (1998-2011)

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-1B) presents a difficult therapeutic problem due to the failure of medical treatment. Pulmonary resection is an important adjunctive therapy for selected patients with MDR-TB.

To assess the efficacy of pulmonary resection in the management of MDR-TB patients.

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of MDR-TB patients referred for major pulmonary resections as part of a treatment strategy. The operations were performed in the departments of thoracic surgery at Assaf Harofeh and Wolfson Medical Centers. For the period under study, 13 years (1998-2011), we analyzed patients' medical history, bacteriological, medical and surgical data, morbidity, mortality, and short-term and long-term outcome.

We identified 19 pulmonary resections (8 pneumonectomies, 4 lobectomies, 1 segmentectomy, 6 wedge resections) from among 17 patients, mostly men, with a mean age of 32.9 years (range 18-61 years). Postoperative complications developed in six patients (35.3%) (broncho-pleural fistula in one, empyema in two, prolonged air leakin two, and acute renal failure in one). Only one patient (5.84%) died during the early postoperative period, three (17.6%) inthe late postoperative period, and one within 2 years after the resection. Of 12 survivors, 9 were cured, 2 are still under medical treatment, and 1 is lost from follow-up because of poor compliance.

Pulmonary resection for MDR-TB patients is an effective adjunctive treatment with acceptable morbidity and mortality.