Therapies are developed

In the 1930s and 1940s doctors specialized in pulmonary tuberculosis performed minor operations, such as the canalization of abscesses and artificial pneumothorax, i.e. collapse therapy. Until the end of the 1940s pneumothorax was the most commonly used procedure in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. In artificial pneumothorax therapy air was inserted into the pleural cavity, i.e. outside the lungs which caused the diseased lung to collapse isolating the infected area or “cavern”. In maintenance therapy air had to be added into the pleural space to replace the original air that was gradually absorbed. Pneumothorax maintenance treatments could be administered at patients’ home for years after discharge from hospital.