THE MECHANISM OF LOCALIZATION OF GAS IN THE PLEURAL CAVITY AND ITS CLINICAL APPLICATION IN PNEUMOTHORAX THERAPY

Abstract

Thoracoplasty has rightly been considered as a further development of artificial pneumothorax in the surgical treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, the prime purpose of each being to put the diseased lung at rest. However, in the light of our newer understanding of the localization of gas in the pleural cavity with relation to the diseased and nondiseased portion of the treated lung, thoracoplasty cannot be considered to parallel artificial pneumothorax in its mode of action and ultimate effect. In one class of cases at least the action of artificial pneumothorax, if administered in the proper way, is unparalleled by any other method; it enables the complete compression of the diseased portion without affecting the functioning portion of the treated lung. It is best accomplished in persons with a soft lesion of the exudative type of pulmonary tuberculosis limited to one area of the lungs which is more or less free from