Abstract: Objective To evaluate the protective significance,the operative indication and appropriate times of thoracis surgical treatment of long standing bacteriological positive pulm.tuberculosis.Methods Sixty-three patients with cavities or destroyed lungs who had failed antituberculosis chemotherapy,received either lung resection or auxiliary thracoplasty were retrospectively analyzed.Results Sputum negative conversion was found in fif-ty-nine patients:The negative conversion rate was 93.7%.Four cases had surgical complication and no surgical death occured.Conclusion Surgical operation is the effective procedure in treating long term bacteriological positive tuberculosis patients with cavities and destroyed lungs.The postoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy should be continued for at least 1year.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary/Surgery operation