Suppurative diseases of the lung and pleura: a continuing challenge in developing countries

A retrospective study of 1,150 consecutive patients with thoracic and cardiovascular diseases seen at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, over a five-year period (January, 1975, to December, 1979) showed that 42% (481 patients) were treated for suppurative diseases of the lung and pleura, notably empyema thoracis, lung abscess, and bronchiectasis. Of these, 336 or 70% were treated for empyema thoracis, most of whom were less than 2 years old. Seventy-five patients (16%) had lung abscess, 53 of whom were treated medically with 8 deaths, while 22 had emergency resection for massive hemoptysis with 9 deaths. Of the 70 patients with bronchiectasis, 37 were treated medically with 2 deaths, while 33 were treated surgically with 5 deaths. These data demonstrate that infectious diseases of the lung and pleura remain the greatest challenge to the thoracic surgeons in tropical, developing countries who are often handicapped by inadequate facilities, lack of drugs, illiteracy, poverty, superstitious beliefs, and poor environmental hygiene.