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112
Collapse therapy, either pneumothorax or pneumoperitoneum,
may be necessary in some cases. There are at present 123 patients
attending for this treatment made up as follows:—
Male
Female
Unilateral artificial pneumothorax 33 26
Bilateral artificial pneumothorax 4 7
Pneumoperitoneum with or without
phrenic crush
19
27
Pneumothorax and pneumoperitoneum 1 2
Pneumothorax and contralateral
thoracoplasty
4
—
Total number of refills during the year 4,199
This form of collapse treatment is maintained by air refills at
regular intervals, usually weekly or fortnightly, for from 2 to 8
years with an average of 4 years.
In 30 cases refills were stopped during 1951. In 19 patients
this was a planned procedure as the original disease appeared to be
arrested. In the other 11 cases refills were stopped usually because
some complication had occurred.

Surgical Treatment.—Due to improved technique and the
new drugs, surgical treatment of lung tuberculosis has made enormous
advances recently. Thoracoplasty, lobectomy, pneumonectomy
and lucite plumbage, are the usual operations. 25 patients
were so treated during the year. There was one post-operative
death, the patient unfortunately, having a haemorrhage from his
pulmonary artery 10 days after the operation.
There are now 66 patients attending the clinic who have had
major thoracic surgical treatment. Five of these still have some
active disease but are well in themselves, and their lives have
undoubtedly been prolonged considerably by their treatment.
The remaining 61, who had their operation at least one year ago,
and in some cases as long as 5 years, are well with no signs of any
active disease in their chests.