The Surgical Treatment for Life Threatening Respiratory Distress Caused by Tuberculous Mediastinal and Tracheobronchial Lymphnodes in Children and Infants

Four cases of serious respiratory distress caused by mediastinal and tracheobrochial lymphnodes are presented. All of them were treated with emergency thoracotomy. The symptoms and signs of tracheobronchial obstruction include: orthopnea, cyanosis, anoxic restlessness and stridulous breathing. Unconsciousness was found in one patient. The massive nodular enlargement of mediastinal nodes was found in all patients during emergency thoracotomy. The decompressing procedure included the removal of large masses and evacuation of large abscess, The symptom of tracheobronchial compression was relieved in all patients after surgery. All petients recovered well after anti-TB therapy. An early surgical intervention for such kind of patient seems to be very rational.