Treating tuberculous pleurisy with effusion by artificial pneumothorax.

The efficacy of artificial pneumothorax therapy was evaluated in subjects with tuberculous pleurisy with effusion. The patients (57 cases) were divided into two groups at random: 30 cases in the control group and 27 cases in the group under treatment. They were all given standard treatment with antituberculous drugs drawing liquid accumulated and injecting antituberculous drugs and corticosteroids into their intrapleural cavity. In addition, the treating group received artificial pneumothorax to enhance the treatment efficacy. The frequency and amount of liquid drawn in the treating group were obviously less than those in the control group. Time necessary to draw all the liquid was substantially shortened in the former case with a higher degree of efficiency (92.59%) than that of the latter (83.33%). We also found that the artificial pneumothorax could raise the intrapleural pressure of 2 to 4 cm H2O, reduce leakage in parietal pleura and evidently increase the absorption in visceral pleura. The results suggest that artificial pneumothorax can reduce the liquid leakage and accelerate absorption of the liquid in thorax. As the two layers of pleura can be isolated by the air in thorax, the occurrence rate of pleural adhesion can be cut down. Hence, it is an effective assistant therapy for tuberculous pleurisy with effusion.