Modern morbidity following pulmonary resection for postprimary tuberculosis. 
Between January 1991 and March 1996, a total of 28 patients with postprimary tuberculosis underwent resection for disease progression (n = 8), multidrug resistance or noncompliance to the medical treatment (n = 11), parenchymal sequelae (n = 3), suspected cancer (n = 5), and for the correction of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula and empyema (n = 1).  On admission, eight patients presented with sputum positivity (28.6%).  Similar to previous series, tubercular predilection for upper lobes was confirmed (21/28, 75%); accordingly, upper lobectomy through an extrapleural approach was the most common procedure (16/28, 57.1%).  Atypical segmental resections or segmentectomies were performed in seven patients (25%), whereas a bilobectomy was necessary in another three patients (10.7%) and a completion pneumonectomy in one (3.6%).  Additional procedures were an open-window thoracostomy with transpericardial closure of the main bronchus and a tailored thoracoplasty.  No operative mortality was reported.  Healing was achieved in 26 patients (93%).  Bleeding, either from the chest wall or hilar dissection, was the only reported intraoperative complication.  Median blood loss, inclusive of early postoperative collections from chest tubes, reached 1330 ml (range 100-3700 ml).  Major postoperative complications included recurrent disease (2/28, 7%) in sputum-positive patients and segmental pulmonary embolism (3.5%).  Causes of minor morbidity were air leaks resulting in residual space undergoing spontaneous resolution (18%), wound breakdown (14%), and, fever (11%).  This limited series confirms the therapeutic value of the surgical treatment of postprimary tuberculosis, provided that correct indications, adequate pre- and post-operative medical coverage, and meticulous technique are applied.