Revisiting an old therapy for tuberculosis.

Artificial, therapeutic pneumothorax was commonly used to treat tuberculosis (TB) prior to the development of antimycobacterial agents. Recent reports1-2 suggested that therapeutic pneumothorax is efficacious. In 1820, James Carson suggested therapeutic pneumothorax for TB,3 and Carlo Forlanini began to apply it in clinical practice in 1888.4 Therapeutic pneumothorax evolved from the idea that collapsing a lung puts it to rest and promotes healing.5-7 Collapsing diseased portions of lung also prevents the spread of tuberculous material to uninvolved areas.5-6 Successful therapeutic pneumothorax results in fibrosis and encapsulation of the diseased lung and containment of the infection.5-6