Therapy of parapneumonic effusions in children: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus conventional thoracostomy drainage.

Objective: Controversy surrounds the optimal treatment of parapneumonic effusions. This trial of pediatric patients with community-acquired pneumonia and associated parapneumonic processes compared primary video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with conventional thoracostomy drainage.

Design: A prospective, randomized trial was conducted at DeVos Children's Hospital (Grand Rapids, MI) between November 2003 and May 2005.