CompletedNot Applicable

Uniportal VATS Versus Chest Tube for Early Empyema

Egypt70 participantsStarted 2021-03-01

Plain-language summary

This randomized controlled study compared uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS) versus chest tube drainage for initial (first-line) treatment of stage I (exudative) and stage II (fibrinopurulent) empyema in adult patients (\>18 years old). The primary end-point of outcome was the overall success of treatment (no need for re-intervention or death). The main results demonstrated the safety of minimally invasive U-VATS procedure in the initial treatment of early stages of pleural empyema in comparison to traditional chest tube drainage. Initial use of U-VATS was safe and feasible due to postoperative freedom from complex or marked effusion, in addition to significant reduction in the need for additional intervention, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and total cost.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients diagnosed to have empyema and indicated for surgery. * Age above 18 years old Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to tolerate single lung ventilation. * Contraindication for general anesthesia/ medically unfit

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Need for further management

Timeframe: 6 months after inital treatment

Mortality

Timeframe: 6 months after inital treatment

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06325904

SponsorMinia University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-06-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Empyema, Pleural trials