Pneumonectomy in Nigeria: indications and results

This report reviews the authors' experience with 35 pneumonectomies over a ten-year period at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The most common indications for pneumonectomy were TB-destroyed lung and life threatening pulmonary hemorrhage due to suppurative lung disease. Malignant tumors of the lung were featured twice as the cause for pneumonectomies in this study.Results show that until 1973, when most pneumonectomies were performed for TB-destroyed lungs, the mortality rate was nine percent, but after 1973, when more pneumonectomies were performed for life threatening hemoptysis, the mortality rose to 29 percent.From this study, it will appear that penumonectomy carries a grave prognosis when performed for suppurative lung disease, when there is active and massive hemorrhage, and when performed under emergency conditions.