A Clinical Study of Cavernoplasty

공동 성형술에 대한 임상적 검토

Six patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with cavity had cavernoplasty at Seoul National University Hospital during the last 4 years and 9 months, from October 1973 to April 1978, were studied in order to assess the clinical values of cavernoplasty. 2] All the cases were male, and the mean age was 31.5 years. 2] All the patients had combined therapy with more than two antituberculosis drugs preoperatively, its minimum duration being 8 months and maximum duration 5 years. 2] Nonspecific symptoms were predominant just prior to admission, weight loss being in 50% and loss of appetite in 50% of cases, respectively. The preoperative cavity size on plain film was minimum 2.5cm by 3.5cm and maximum 6.0cm by 4.0cm with the mean of 4. 4cm by 3.4cm. The cavity size was reduced postoperatively to 1/3-1/4 of preoperative size with the mean of 1.15cm by 1.59cm. 2] Sputum smear for acid fast bacilli was converted to negative postoperatively in two cases. 2] Complications occurred in two cases. One was postoperative pleural effusion and the other was recurrence of symptoms 2 years after surgery. 2] Of the 3 cases able to follow, 2 stopped antituberculous medication after one year. The third case was still on medication because of bronchiectasis due to tuberculous infection.