Pediatric Empyema Thoracis Management: Should the Consensus Be Different for the Developing Countries?

This randomized controlled trial from India compares intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (IFT) to VATS for stage II pediatric empyema, finding IFT noninferior with 95% success versus 90% for VATS. IFT required fewer CT scans and blood transfusions, suggesting it may be a cost-effective alternative in resource-limited settings where empyema burden is high.