Decompression of Enlarged Mediastinal Lymph Nodes Due to Mycobacterium TuberculosisCausing Severe Airway Obstruction in Children

250 children with tuberculosis causing central airway narrowing were evaluated.  34% needed transthoracic nodal dissection for relief of obstruction, nearely one-third of those as an urgent procedure.  Success was more common in those with bronchus intermedius or left main bronchial obstruction.  The success rate was 98%.