Effect of pleural decortication on the pulmonary function of patients with tuberculous empyema

Objective: To explore the effects of pleural decortication on the pulmonary function of patients with tuberculous empyema.Methods: Eighty-nine patients with tuberculous empyema were treated with pleural decortication.The levels of arterial oxygen tension,areterial carbon dioxide tension,arterial oxygen saturation and pH value in all cases were evaluated by blood gas analysis before operation and in 9 months after operation.The levels of forced vital capacity,forced expiratory volume in one second,FEV1/FVC and maximal voluntary ventilarion in all cases before operation and in 3,6 and 9 months after operation were observed to investigate the lung function.Results: All operations were successful,and the postoperative recovery of patient was good.Compared with before operation,the arterial oxygen tension of patients were obviously improved(P<0.01),and the areterial carbon dioxide tension,arterial oxygen saturation and pH of patients were not obviously changed in 9 months after operation(P>0.05).The lung functions of patients in 3,6 and 9 months after operation were significantly better than that in before operation(P<0.01),the lung functions of patients in 6 and 9 months after operation were significantly better than that in 3 months after operation(P<0.01),the difference of lung function of patients between 6 and 9 months after operation was not statistical significance(P>0.05).Conclusions: Pleural decortication can effectively improve the lung function of patient with tuberculous empyema,the patient can better recovery in 6 months after operation.The pleural decortication can be early implemented for the patients with operation indication,which can prevent the further deformation of thorax.