Table 1.
Characteristics of the nine trials included in the meta-analysis
| Trial | Study design | Patient number | Sex (male/female) | Age at operation (range) day | Weight (range) kg | Left side (left/total) | Follow-up time (month) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Cho et al. [3] | Non-randomized historical control trials | TS: 29 OS: 28 |
15/14 16/12 |
NR | 3.2 3.1 |
21/29 23/28 |
11.2 ± 1.9 8.1 ± 1.8 |
Possible bias caused by the simultaneous introduction of a change in critical care and the thoracoscopic approach |
| 2. Gourlay et al. [4] | Non-randomized historical control trials | TS: 20 OS: 18 |
NR | 5.5 3.8 |
3.2 (2.0–4.5) 3.1(1.6–3.8) |
NR | 14.5 37 |
Possible bias caused by the different time periods when both groups were treated |
| 3. Lao et al. [5] | Non-randomized historical control trials | TS: 14 OS: 17 |
12/2 10/7 |
3 (2–150) 3 (2–24) |
3.2 (2.1–4.7) 3.2 (2.1–4.0) |
13/14 16/17 |
8.7 13.9 |
The sample size is small |
| 4. Keijzer et al. [6] | Non-randomized historical control trials | TS: 23 OS: 23 |
13/10 14/9 |
3 (1–6) 4 (2–10) |
3.1(1.6–4.1) 3.3(2.0–5.1) |
21/23 18/23 |
NR | Possible bias as the open treatment cohort contained significantly more patients on ECMO treatment compared to the thoracoscopic approach |
| 5. McHoney et al. [7] | Non-randomized historical control trials | TS: 13 OS: 35 |
NR | 12.5 (2–45) 11.7 (1–75) |
4.2 (3.0–8.0) 3.6 (2.0–6.0) |
NR | 15 31 |
Possible selection bias as the thoracoscopic treatment cohort is too small |
| 6. Gander et al. [8] | Non-randomized historical control trials | TS: 26 OS: 19 |
14/12 8/11 |
3 (2–22) 4 (1–10) |
3.2 (1.3–4.2) 3.2 (1.7–3.9) |
23/26 16/19 |
14 14 |
Possible bias caused by difference in surgeons and the number of allocated cases |
| 7. Szavay et al. [9] | Non-randomized historical control trials | TS/LS: 17/4 OS: 12 |
11/10 9/3 |
4 (0–1017) | 4.3 3.5 |
15/21 10/12 |
NR | It has bias of data collection. The thoracoscopic group has less complicated cases |
| 8. Jancelewicz et al. [10] | Non-randomized historical control trials | TS: 23 OS: 136 |
15/8 NR |
2 (0–21) 4 (0–4152) |
3.1(1.6–4.9) 3.2(1.2–4.7) |
22/23 NR |
43.2 NR |
The sample size of the TS group is too small |
| 9. Nam et al. [11] | Non-randomized historical control trials | TS: 16 OS: 34 |
12/4 21/13 |
4.6 4.3 |
3.0 3.0 |
15/16 28/34 |
35.6 ± 24.1 | There were more laparotomy than thoracoscopic cases. The laparotomy group included a larger number of high risk patients, which may cause selection bias |
TS thoracoscopic surgery, OS open surgery, LS laparoscopic surgery, NR not report