Carlo Forlanini, inventor of artificial pneumothorax for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Thoracic balls: Figure 1:

“…Forlanini introduced the concept of artificially induced pneumothorax, in which the collapsed lung rested and healed without the need for the patient to spend years in an institution. 1 In artificially induced pneumothorax, the air needed to be replaced frequently; thus, more permanent solutions were sought. These included thoracoplasty or plombage, in which an extrapleural space was created between parietal pleura and the chest wall and filled with materials such as fat, oil, wax packs, bone or methyl-methacrylate (Lucite) balls, shown here.…”

Artificial pneumothorax: tapping into a small bit of history

“…In the 18th century, French physicians noticed that patients with tuberculosis who developed spontaneous pneumothoraces improved. 1,3 By the late 19th century, Carlo Forlanini (1847-1918) had developed a technique to induce pneumothorax, forcing nitrogen into the chest through a needle pleurocentesis (Figure 2), thus collapsing the lung in an attempt to close tuberculous cavities (Figure 3). [1][2][3] Artificial pneumothorax was independently developed as a treatment in the United States, but did not gain widespread popularity there until several years later.…”

“…1,3 By the late 19th century, Carlo Forlanini (1847-1918) had developed a technique to induce pneumothorax, forcing nitrogen into the chest through a needle pleurocentesis (Figure 2), thus collapsing the lung in an attempt to close tuberculous cavities (Figure 3). [1][2][3] Artificial pneumothorax was independently developed as a treatment in the United States, but did not gain widespread popularity there until several years later. [1][2][3] Although the procedure was an important part of treatment until the introduction of effective antibiotics, tuberculosis remained such an overwhelming public health problem that it provided a powerful stimulus for continued surgical innovation.…”

“…[1][2][3] Artificial pneumothorax was independently developed as a treatment in the United States, but did not gain widespread popularity there until several years later. [1][2][3] Although the procedure was an important part of treatment until the introduction of effective antibiotics, tuberculosis remained such an overwhelming public health problem that it provided a powerful stimulus for continued surgical innovation. 1,3,4 In this way, the treatment of tuberculosis really laid the foundations of modern thoracic surgery.…”

“…[1][2][3] Although the procedure was an important part of treatment until the introduction of effective antibiotics, tuberculosis remained such an overwhelming public health problem that it provided a powerful stimulus for continued surgical innovation. 1,3,4 In this way, the treatment of tuberculosis really laid the foundations of modern thoracic surgery. Previously published at www.cmaj.ca…”