Surgical management of pulmonary tuberculosis

Surgery for pulmonary tubercolosis (PTB) is now the second place treatment. Among the surgical indications the most debated is the multi-drug resistance of a focal pulmonary tuberculous disease. Other indications are: bronchiectasis, hemoptysis and the presence of a broncho-pleural fistula. Pulmonary Aspergilloma is a frequent indication for surgery; it is commonly a PTB sequela and causes severe complications. The presence of an unknown pulmonary mass or nodule is a surgical criterion because it might signal a cancer. Surgery therefore now constitutes a valid option for the treatment of clinical patterns of PTB unresponsive to medical treatment in severe, potentially fatal clinical conditions.