The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 33, 40-47, Copyright © 1982 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Suppurative diseases of the lung and pleura: a continuing challenge in developing countries
SA Adebonojo, IA Grillo, O Osinowo and OA Adebo
A retrospective study of 1,150 consecutive patients with thoracic and
cardiovascular diseases seen at the University College Hospital, Ibadan,
Nigeria, over a five-year period (January, 1975, to December, 1979) showed
that 42% (481 patients) were treated for suppurative diseases of the lung
and pleura, notably empyema thoracis, lung abscess, and bronchiectasis. Of
these, 336 or 70% were treated for empyema thoracis, most of whom were less
than 2 years old. Seventy-five patients (16%) had lung abscess, 53 of whom
were treated medically with 8 deaths, while 22 had emergency resection for
massive hemoptysis with 9 deaths. Of the 70 patients with bronchiectasis,
37 were treated medically with 2 deaths, while 33 were treated surgically
with 5 deaths. These data demonstrate that infectious diseases of the lung
and pleura remain the greatest challenge to the thoracic surgeons in
tropical, developing countries who are often handicapped by inadequate
facilities, lack of drugs, illiteracy, poverty, superstitious beliefs, and
poor environmental hygiene.
