The role of resection for pulmonary tuberculosis in children and adolescents

Abstract

An analysis of sixty-two children and adolescents with pulmonary tuberculosis treated by resection revealed the fact that the indications for surgery are influenced largely by the age of the patient. Children under the age of five rarely require surgery because one is usually dealing with a regressive primary disease. Resection may be required for irreversible changes in the parenchyma or sequelae due to bronchial obstruction. In children six to ten years of age resection has a wider field of application. In this age group one is more apt to encounter sequelae of the primary infection, such as a shrunken lobe, bronchostenosis or bronchiectasis. Some children in this age group may have postprimary disease identical to that in the adolescent. Resection is more often indicated for tuberculosis in the adolescent. The destructive nature of the disease which may not respond sufficiently to antituberculosis treatment calls for more radical measures.