Surgical treatment of chronic destructive pneumonia.

During an 8-year period 78 patients underwent operation for chronic destructive pneumonia (CDP) at Wentworth Hospital. The indications for operative treatment are described and the results of treatment presented. Of the 78 patients, 12 died during or after operation and 27 developed postoperative complications which required further surgical intervention. This high morbidity and mortality rate is contrasted with results achieved in the operative treatment of bronchiectasis and pulmonary tuberculosis. The complications are caused by haemorrhage and by pleural or pulmonary infection. Control of infective complication depends on the elucidation of the aetiology of CDP.