ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the proper operation time of patients with encapsulated empyema secondary to tubercu-lous pleurisy by review the clinical characteristics and duration of these patients.Methods From December 1995 to May 2017, 235 patients with encapsulated empyema and pleural decortication were operated.The course of disease and preopera-tional data were collected.Patients were divided into three groups according to the duration of disease(group A with 113 cases,≤12 months; group B with 53 cases, 12 -24 months; group C with 69 cases, >24 months).Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to decrease the baseline difference among three groups.Preoperational features, such as operation time, bleeding, complications were compared between groups.Results PSM were conducted between group A and group B (45 paired patients), group B and group C(29 paired patients), respectively.The length of operation, amount of bleeding and blood transfusion in group B were significantly higher than those in group A and group C .The days with tube and hospitalization in group B were significantly longer than group A, but they were insignificantly different compared with group C(P>0.05). Postoperative complications were similar between the three groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Encapsulated empyema in early stage(within 1 year of onset) or after the maturation of the fibrous plate(over 2 years) is less difficult for surgical intervention, and try to avoid surgical treatment at high risk(1 to 2 years).