[The role of surgeon in treatment of chronic respiratory failure after pulmonary tuberculosis operations].

We analyzed pulmonary functions and rib cage-phrenic motions on 296 cases of chronic empyema patients who had surgical treatment. Pulmonary functions were better preserved in patients with a single step than in those with multi-step operations, and in those who had more than five operations the impairment was inevitable. Both %VC and rib cage-phrenic motions improved by decortication, and by air-plombage, but in those who developed multi-rib fractures after the latter procedure, ipsilateral chest wall motion almost disappeared. Since some restriction of rib cage-phrenic motion is inevitable after the surgery, we have developed a cuirass respirator which can synchronize with the respiration to assist the movement of the chest wall. The results attained so far are satisfactory.