Enzymatic TherapyversusVATS for pleural infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

In this meta-analysis of non-randomised studies with a high risk of selection bias, VATS appears superior to IET regarding LOS in the treatment of parapneumonic pleural infections, without increased mortality and morbidity rate. Two recently published randomised feasibility studies failed to confirm this finding, but were not designed to detect a difference in LOS. This meta-analysis highlights the need for high-quality studies.