The Optimal Duration of Anti-Tuberculous Therapy Before Pericardiectomy in Constrictive Tuberculous Pericarditis

Abstract

Background: It is unclear about the duration of anti-tuberculous therapy before pericardiectomy (DATT) in the patients with constrictive tuberculous pericarditis. This study aims to explore the optimal DATT and its impacts in these patients.Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 93 patients with constrictive tuberculous pericarditis undergoing pericardiectomy and divided them into two groups according to the optimal cutoff value of DATT which was determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Youden Index. Postoperative and survival outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results: The optimal cutoff value of DATT was 1.05 (months). The enrolled patients were divided into the DATT≤1.05 group and the DATT>1.05 group, with 24 (25.8%) and 69 (74.2%) cases, respectively. Comparing with the DATT≤1.05 group, the DATT>1.05 group had shorter postoperative ICU stay (P=0.023), duration of chest drainage (P=0.002), postoperative hospital stay (P=0.001) and lower incidence of postoperative complications (P<0.001). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in recurrence and survival outcomes.Conclusions: It would be of great benefit to enhanced recovery after pericardiectomy in the patients with constrictive tuberculous pericarditis if DATT lasted for at least one month.