plombage


plom·bage

(plom-bahzh'), Formerly, the use of an inert material in collapse of the lung in the surgical treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. [Fr. lit. lead-work]

plombage

(plŏm-băzh′) [Fr. plomber, to plug] A method of collapsing the apex of the lung by stripping the parietal pleura from the chest wall at the site of desired collapse and packing the space between the lung and the chest wall with an inert substance such as small balls made of certain plastic materials. It is infrequent in current practice.