Potential effect modifiers		Total n (%)	Talc poudrage vs talc slurry. n (%)	Bleomycin vs talc slurry. n (%)	Bleomycin vs talc poudrage. n (%)	Tetracycline vs bleomycin. n (%)	C. parvum vs bleomycin. n (%)	IPC vs talc slurry. n (%)	Mustine vs tetracycline. n (%)	Doxycycline vs bleomycin. n (%)
Number of studies		59	3	5	2	5	2	2	2	2
Cell types included	All	42 (71)	3 (100)	5 (100)	1 (50)	5 (100)	1 (50)	2 (100)	2 (100)	2 (100)
	Only breast	6 (10)	0	0	1 (50)	0	0	0	0	0
	Only Lung	7 (12)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Other	4 (7)	0	0	0	0	1 (50)	0	0	0
Trapped lung	Excluded	24 (41)	2 (67)	3 (60)	1 (50)	1 (20)	0	1 (50)	0	0
	Included	35 (59)	1 (33)	2 (40)	1 (50)	4 (80)	2 (100)	1 (50)	2 (100)	2 (100)
Drain size	Unknown	26 (44)	1 (33)	1 (20)	1 (50)	4 (80)	1 (50)	0	0	1 (50)
	Small < 20 Fr	13 (22)	0	1 (20)	1 (50)	0	1 (50)	1 (50	1 (50)	1 (50)
	Large ≥ 20 Fr	17 (29)	2 (67)	3 (60)	0	1 (20)	0	1(50)	1 (50)	0
	Study comparing large with small drains	3 (5)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
How pleurodesis was defined	Recurrence of effusion and need for repeat intervention	41 (69)	1 (33)	4 (80)	1 (50)	4 (80)	2 (100)	2 (100)	2 (100)	1 (50)
	Radiological recurrence only	18 (31)	2 (66)	1 (20)	1 (50)	1 (20)	0	0	0	1 (50)
Time point pleurodesis defined*	2 ‐ 4 months	23 (39)	1 (33)	1 (20)	1 (50)	2 (40)	1 (50)	0	2 (100)	1 (5)
	> 4 ‐ 7 months	1 (2)	1 (33)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	> 11 ‐ 12 months	1 (2)	0	0	0	0	0	1 (50)	0	0
	< 2 months	29 (49)	1 (33)	2 (40)	0	3 (60)	1 (50)	1 (50)	0	1 (50)
	Not stated	5 (8)	0	2 (40)	1 (50)	0	0	0	0	0
* If the study reported multiple time points, the one referred to here was that used in our primary analysis (according to our hierarchy of preferences (see Primary outcomes)). IPC = Indwelling pleural catheter.