The functional value of leaving one segment of the upper lobe compared with that of a lobectomy.

The general principle followed in resection for pulmonary tuberculosis is to preserve as much functioning lung parenchyma as possible. A segmental resection has therefore always been preferred to an upper lobectomy. The aim of this paper is to report the functional result obtained after different resections in order to ascertain the value of leaving one segment of the upper lobe. Earlier investigations concerning the reduction of lung function after resection for pulmonary tuberculosis have not shown much difference when segmental or lobar resection was performed. It has been suggested that this lack of difference might be caused by the greater incidence of complications among patients having segmental resections. TABLE I POST-OPERATIVE FUNCTIONAL RESULT AFTER RESECTION OF RIGHT UPPER LOBE COMPARED WITH THAT AFTER SEGMENTAL RESECTIONt