Artificial pneumothorax, a treatment method for pulmonary tuberculosis that dominated clinical practice throughout the first half of the 20th century, originated from the observations of Carlo Forlanini. By intentionally introducing air into the pleural cavity to allow damaged lungs to rest and scar, he developed a surgical approach that remained a critical intervention for severe cases until the 1970s.
Military Service and Early Medical Training
Born in Milan in 1847 to physician Giuseppe Forlanini and Marianna Rossi, Carlo Forlanini pursued studies at the Borromeo College of the University of Pavia. His education was interrupted in 1866 when he joined the unification efforts led by Garibaldi, participating in the battles of Monte Suello and Bezzecca. Upon returning to academic life, he developed scientific relationships with Camillo Golgi and Giulio Bizzozero before graduating from the University of Padua on 9 August 1870.
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In 1871, Forlanini began working at the Maggiore hospital in Milan, eventually heading the skin department by 1881. Confronting the tuberculosis crisis, he collaborated with his brother Enrico to build early hyperbaric chambers and explore mechanical lung treatments. Observing that spontaneous pneumothorax occurred in some patients, he theorized that artificial pressure could promote healing by collapsing infected cavities. He published this hypothesis in 1882, though initial reception was muted as the scientific community prioritized bacterial research.
Academic Appointments and Refinement
Forlanini moved to the University of Turin in 1884 to serve as a professor of special medical pathology and director of the Cabinet of Special Preparatory and Medical Pathology. He returned to his alma mater, the University of Pavia, in 1898 and accepted a permanent professorship there in 1900. During this period, he mentored Scipione Riva-Rocci. He performed his first artificial pneumothorax procedure in 1894 and refined the technique over the following decades despite managing complications such as emphysema and cerebral embolism.
International Recognition and Final Years
The efficacy of his pneumothorax method earned widespread acclaim following a 1912 lecture in Rome at the seventh International Congress on Tuberculosis. In 1913, he was appointed a senator of the Kingdom of Italy and a member of the council of public education. Though his colleague Camillo Golgi nominated him for the Nobel Prize in Medicine between 1915 and 1918, no awards were presented during those years. Forlanini died in Nervi on 25 May 1918 at age 71 and is buried at the monumental cemetery of Milan.
Fast facts
- Born: 1847, Milan
- Died: 25 May 1918, Nervi
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Italy
- Education: University of Pavia
- Key Innovation: Artificial pneumothorax
- Political Position: Senator of the Kingdom of Italy
Questions readers ask
What was the medical significance of Forlanini’s artificial pneumothorax?
It served as the primary treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis for the first half of the 20th century.
Where is the Carlo Forlanini Institute located?
The institute is located in Rome and was founded in 1934.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Pavia
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