Complications of intrapleural BCG in the treatment of operable non-small-cell bronchial carcinoma.

Seventy-eight patients entered a randomized study of postoperative intrapleural BCG in the treatment of bronchial carcinoma. 39 patients received BCG (Tice strain), of whom 17 took isoniazid, and there were 39 controls. There was a high rate of complications related to the use of intrapleural BCG, in both isoniazid and non-isoniazid treated groups. Postoperative infections occurred in eight BCG treated patients and one control; seven BCG treated patients but only one control developed prolonged postoperative chest pain. Empyema developed six months postoperatively in three of the BCG treated group. Furthermore BCG conferred no survival advantage at one year. We considered the complications to be of sufficient severity and incidence to discontinue the study.