Tuberculosis (TB) (cont.)
Surgery
Surgery is rarely used to treat tuberculosis (TB). But it may be used to treat extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) or to treat complications of an infection in the lungs or another part of the body.
Surgery is used to:
- Repair lung damage, such as serious bleeding that cannot be stopped any other way, or repeated lung infections other than TB.
- Remove a pocket of bacteria that cannot be killed with long-term medicine treatment.
Surgery has a high success rate, but it also has a risk of complications, which may include infections other than TB and shortness of breath after surgery.
Surgery for TB outside the lungs
Surgery sometimes may be needed to remove or repair organs damaged by TB in parts of the body other than the lungs (extrapulmonary TB) or to prevent other rare complications, such as:
- TB infection of the brain (TB meningitis). Your doctor may surgically place a tube (shunt) that drains excess fluid from the brain to prevent a buildup of pressure that can further damage the brain.
- TB infections of the heart (TB pericarditis). Your surgeon may partially remove or repair the infected sac around the heart.
- TB infection of the kidneys (renal TB). Your surgeon may need to either remove your infected kidney or repair the kidney or other parts of the urinary system.
- TB infection of the joints. You may need surgery to repair damaged areas of your spine or joints (orthopedic surgery).
Other Places To Get Help
Organizations
| American Lung Association |
| 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW |
| Suite 800 |
| Washington, DC 20004 |
| Phone: | 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872)
1-800-548-8252 (to speak with a lung professional)
(212) 315-8700 |
| Email: | info@lungusa.org |
| Web Address: | www.lungusa.org |
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The American Lung Association provides programs of education, community service, and advocacy. Some of the topics available include asthma, tobacco control, emphysema, infectious disease, asbestos, carbon monoxide, radon, and ozone. |
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| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention |
| 1600 Clifton Road |
| Atlanta, GA 30333 |
| Phone: | 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
(404) 639-3534 |
| TDD: | 1-888-232-6348 |
| Email: | cdcinfo@cdc.gov |
| Web Address: | www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/nchstp.html |
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The National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention is a branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Their Web site provides information and updates on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and tuberculosis (TB). You can also find fact sheets on these health topics. |
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| National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health |
| NIAID Office of Communications and Government Relations |
| 6610 Rockledge Drive, MSC 6612 |
| Bethesda, MD 20892-6612 |
| Phone: | 1-866-284-4107 toll-free |
| Phone: | (301) 496-5717 |
| Fax: | (301) 402-3573 |
| TDD: | 1-800-877-8339 |
| Web Address: | www.niaid.nih.gov |
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The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases conducts research and provides consumer information on infectious and immune-system-related diseases. |
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| World Health Organization |
| Avenue Appia 20 |
| 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland |
| Email: | info@who.int |
| Web Address: | www.who.int/en |
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The World Health Organization (WHO) is an agency of the United Nations. It has about 200 member states. WHO promotes technical cooperation among nations on health issues, carries out programs to control and eliminate disease, and strives to improve the quality of human life. The Web site has information on many health topics, including health and disease related to travel. |
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