Surgical treatment of thoracic tuberculosis

For a long time, surgery was the main and only therapeutic weapon for tuberculosis, before the emergence of antibacillaries. Today, treatment is essentially medical. Although surgery is becoming increasingly rare in the treatment of TBC, it remains a therapeutic option in view of the emergence of multi-resistant bacterial forms and persistent tuberculosis sequelae. Surgery may be indicated for diagnostic (puncture, biopsy) or therapeutic (drainage, excision, resection) purposes. In addition, the increasing incidence of HIV immunodepression and the risk of recurrence of TBC represent a topical issue for thoracic surgery. Over the past 30 years, thoracic surgery has greatly evolved, with less invasive and more sophisticated techniques now available, such as video-assisted surgery. For patients requiring surgery, multidisciplinary management is essential. Coordination between the anesthetist, surgeon and pulmonologist is essential.