Analysis of Recurrent Tuberculosis after Resection

Abstract

Four hundred and eighty-six patients who had unilateral pulmonary resection for tuberculosis were followed-up for a minimum of three years. Fifty-four of these patients developed recurrent disease. Seventeen of the 54 with recurrent disease had their infection arrested by further surgery and six were controlled by intensive drug therapy. Twenty-five are alive but still have active tuberculosis. Factors thought to influence recurrence have been analyzed in randomized matched pairs. Bronchopleural fistula, postoperative pleural space, positive smear and culture of the resected specimen and positive preoperative sputum culture had a significantly higher incidence in the patients who developed recurrent disease and may have a causal relationship to reappearance of active pulmonary tuberculosis.