67 cases of tuberculous cavities treated by pneumoperitoneum during the past 28
months were presented. It is found that, unless the lesion was old productive type, the
majority of cavities respended favorably to sustained pneumoperitoneum. It is felt that in
Korea where there are limited facilities for pulmonary surgery, those cavities should be
treated with pneumoperitoneum as early as possible regardless of the location of the
cavities. These cases reported were all treated on outpatient basis and consequently
without bed rest. The first case was a truck-driver who continued to carry out his
daily work to the extent of developing an inguinal hernia. In this case the cavity
disappeared completely and from this it is apparant that, unless the lesion is a serious
exudative type, it is possible to attain satisfactory results without bed rest. This
experience covers only the past two years and, consequently, it is impossible to deduce
the long term results from this study.
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