Table 1. Patients' characteristics at diagnosis.

	STK (n. 27)	VATS (n. 27)	P
Age (years)	7.30±2.76	8.74±2.60	0.050
Sex (M/F)	17/10	9/18	0.023
Weight (kg)	25.30±6.31	26.96±8.35	0.412
Height (cm)	121±16	122±13	0.445
Oxygen support (L/min)	0.72±0.74	0.69±0.56	0.871
Duration of symptoms in days	8.0±1.7	9.6± 4.3	0.413
Lateral effusion thickness (mm)	73±39	79±21	0.844
Area of shadowing (%)	51±21	54±22	0.816