Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

5 questions · 5 findings · 1 reviews · Acute Respiratory Infections

No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 1 · 20%Moderate 4 · 80%High 0 · 0%

All‐cause mortality · children and adults with pleural empyema

VATS showed no clear difference in mortality compared with thoracostomy drainage (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Surgical versus non‐surgical management for pleural empyema 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
OR 0.8 [0.04, 14.89]
7 studies · 361 participants
Low

Mortality: children · children and adults with pleural empyema

1 finding from 1 review

Surgical versus non‐surgical management for pleural empyema 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
no estimate extracted
5 studies · 271 participants
Moderate

Mortality: adults · children and adults with pleural empyema

VATS showed no clear difference in mortality: adults compared with thoracostomy drainage (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Surgical versus non‐surgical management for pleural empyema 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
OR 0.8 [0.04, 14.89]
2 studies · 90 participants
Moderate

Length of hospital stay · children and adults with pleural empyema

1 finding from 1 review

Surgical versus non‐surgical management for pleural empyema 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
no estimate extracted
5 studies · 231 participants
Moderate

Procedural complications · children and adults with pleural empyema

VATS showed no clear difference in procedural complications compared with thoracostomy drainage (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Surgical versus non‐surgical management for pleural empyema 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
OR 0.46 [0.08, 2.75]
5 studies · 271 participants
Moderate