Table 4.
Main characteristics of the thoracoscopic procedures
| Study | Timing of thoracoscopy | Entry points, n | Type of thoracoscope | Instrument used for fibrinous septae disruption | Chest tube (size) | Mean (range) tube duration (days) | Post-procedural negative pressure suction application (cmH20) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solèr et al. [10] | After failed chest tube attempt | – | Rigid | Biopsy forceps | – | 6 (2–14) | Yes (− 25 to 50 cmH20) |
| Brutsche et al. [11] | After failed chest tube attempt (˜one-third of the total sample size”) | – | Rigid | Biopsy forceps | 24 or 28F | – | Yes (− 20 cmH20) |
| Ravaglia et al. [12] | After failed chest tube attempt in 9/41 subjects | – | Rigid | Biopsy forceps | 20–32F | 7.9 (2–17) | Yes (− 20 cmH20) |
| Ohuchi et al. [13] | First-line | – | Semi-rigid | Biopsy forceps | 24F double lumen | 9.2 (3–18) | Yes (− 15 cmH20) |
| Xiong et al. [14] | First-line | 1 | Rigid | Biopsy forceps | – | 11 (5–15) | Yes (− 20 cmH20) |
| Abo-El-maged et al. [15] | First-line (27 patients) and second line in patients who failed chest tube drainage (3 patients) | – | Rigid | Biopsy forceps | 26–28F | – | – |
| Hardavella et al. [16] | First-line | 1 | Rigid | Biopsy forceps | – | 7 (2–17) | – |
| Sumalani et al. [17] |
Prolonged presentation of empyema (> 30 days) No response to antibiotics therapy Failure of complete drainage by tube thoracostomy |
1 or 2 | – | Biopsy forceps | 28–32F | – | Yes (− 20 cmH20) |
F French, cmH20 centimeters of water